The Anthony “Cat” Barber Sweepstakes is over and N.C. State is the winner.
The athletic, rugged point guard from Hampton (Va.) picked the Wolfpack over Alabama and Kansas on Saturday.
“N.C. State is the perfect place for me to reach my potential and to compete for ACC championships and a national championship!” Barber, the Rivals No. 3 point guard in the Class of 2013, told the Charlotte Observer by text. “Coach [Mark] Gottfried and [assistant] coach [Rob] Moxley made me believe we can be great.”
“I think he’ll fit in athletically offensively and defensively,” Barber’s AAU coach, Boo Williams, told SNY.tv. “Any time you get a point guard of that nature, that’s a big plus for the program.”
Barber had a strong summer on the recruiting trail, playing well at both the Nike Global Challenge and the Peach Jam.
His commitment likely means the end of a potential package deal with AAU teammate Troy Williams of Oak Hill Academy since N.C. State is not recruiting Williams. The two had talked about potentially playing together at Alabama or Louisville.
“No package deal, no,” Boo Williams said. “They got a wing in T.J. Warren.”
Barber is the first commit for Gottfried in the Class of 2013.
The Observer reported that Gottfried had an in-home visit last Sunday with Julius Randle and has one with center Beejay Anya this Sunday.
