When Will Wade officially signed a six-year deal to take over as head coach at NC State in late March, it signaled the start of a new era for the Wolfpack. Known for his energy and tactical mind, Wade wasted no time putting his stamp on the program.
Since his arrival, he has brought in 12 new players, including eight via the transfer portal, significantly reshaping the roster. However, the coach has expressed confidence in a core group of five players who are expected to leave a major mark on the program.
NC State’s Roster Rebuild Under Will Wade Features 5-Player Core
The five-player core features Tre Holloman, Terrance Arceneaux, Jerry Deng, Darrion Williams, and Ven-Allen Lubin. Each of these players brings a different skill set to the table, and together, they form the foundation of Wade’s flexible, matchup-based system.
Rather than sticking to one playing style, NC State is expected to rely heavily on versatility throughout the upcoming 2025–26 season.
Wade recently joined Jon Rothstein on CBS Sports College Basketball to discuss his vision for the team. In the interview, he stressed that the strength of the team will be the team itself, emphasizing a collective approach.
“The strength of our team needs to be our team,” Wade said. “It’s going to have a lot of guys pitching in.” He expects many players to contribute and share responsibility, highlighting this as vital to the team’s success in the upcoming season.
Leading that effort is Lubin, a 6’8″ forward who averaged 8.7 points and 5.5 rebounds last season at bitter ACC rival North Carolina. A former top-100 recruit in the 2022 class, Lubin started his college career at Notre Dame and has appeared in 91 collegiate games.
He brings valuable experience, providing NC State a steady frontcourt presence. Wade called Lubin “a hard worker” who “does everything that you ask” and knows how to respond well to coaching.
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Joining him is Terrance Arceneaux, a 6’5″ wing. He appeared in 40 games last season for Houston. Arceneaux averaged 6.5 points and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 33.7 percent from three-point range. He is expected to contribute primarily as a perimeter defender and floor spacer for the Wolfpack.
Wade sees Arceneaux as an “impactful defender,” adding, “He’s one of the most impactful defenders, and our job is to continue what he’s done defensively, but also showcase what he can do offensively.”
The coach also had high praise for Tre Holloman, calling him “a winner” who has been “a part of winning.” He added, “We feel really, really good about him.” Holloman is a 6’2″ guard from Michigan State who appeared in 106 games over three Big Ten seasons.
He is known for his ball-handling and strong on-ball defense. In the 2024–25 season, he averaged 9.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, while shooting 37.3 percent from the field.
Jerry Deng is a 6’9″ forward from Rochester, New York, who brings scoring and versatility to the forward position. In the 2024–25 season at Florida State, he averaged 7 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.5 assists, shooting 43.4 percent from the field. He also connected on 37 percent of his three-point attempts, demonstrating his ability to stretch the floor.
Rounding out the core is Darrion Williams, a 6’6″ forward from Sacramento, California. He had a standout season at Texas Tech, averaging 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, while earning First-Team All-Big 12 honors.
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Williams started his career at Nevada, where he won Mountain West Freshman of the Year. Now entering his third program, Wade said he wants to turn Williams into “more of a hybrid” forward to take full advantage of his versatile skill set.
The Wolfpack will enter the 2025–26 season with one of the most transfer-heavy rosters in the ACC, as Coach Wade clearly prioritizes experience over youth.
The staff has focused on building a tough and adaptable group through the transfer portal. Flexibility and lineup experimentation have been central themes in preseason planning, with Wade expected to explore multiple combinations before settling on a consistent rotation.
NC State’s full roster is now finalized. Team workouts are set to begin in July 2025, with Wade expected to test multiple combinations early in the offseason to determine the most effective lineups.