Manny Bates and Jericole Hellems Expect to Lead the Way for NC State MBB

RALEIGH NC – Manny Bates and Jericole Hellems are ready to lead the NC State Wolfpack men’s basketball team as they get set to kick off their 2021-2022 season on November 1st against Elizabeth City State. After finishing with a 14-11 record (9-8, 9th in ACC) in a bizarre covid season, coach Kevin Keatts has made it known during the ACC media day that he expects better results from his squad this upcoming campaign.

This was an extremely young team who carried just two seniors in Braxton Beverly and Devon Daniels on the 2020 roster, which indicates there is plenty of room for improvement, and that is without even mentioning the incoming freshman class.

Bates and Hellems are two key players to watch for the Pack when breaking down this team. The 6 foot 11 forward Manny Bates will look to build off an impressive sophomore season where he averaged 9.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks in 24 games (23 starts).

His extraordinary length and athleticism give him the potential to be a special player and someone who can take over a game. His offensive game is progressively getting more well-rounded, being a problem down low, but the defensive play separates him from the rest. He has averaged 2.7 blocks or more in his first two seasons, and a year ago, he was able to come down with 3.8 defensive boards a game (team-high).

“He is a game-changer. You know, the way we play is that we like to extend our defense, we like to pressure the ball, we take gambles, we love steals, we chalk deflections, and because of Manny Bates, we are allowed to play that way. He is without a doubt the best defensive player that I have ever coached as an assistant or a head coach” coach Keatts had high praise when asked about the North Carolina native.

As for senior forward Jericole Hellems, he is also coming off an impressive year, averaging 12.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists a game, all good for career highs. At 6 foot 7, he can shoot the mid-range ball pretty well and racked up a 45.2% field goal percentage while being a 77.1% shooter at the foul line.

Like Bates, Hellems has improved each season, particularly as a scorer going from averaging 5.3 to 9.5 and then eventually 12.9 points a game, and that number should only increase in 2021. Hellems has not just improved as a player but as a leader and is looked up to by the Pack players. Leadership is essential to Hellems, and it almost makes him a better player because of it. He told the media that playing behind Devon Daniels and Torin Dorn greatly impacted his collegiate career.

“I think as far as being behind them guys, they have taught me so much, not even vocally but just watching them and being able to listen to the things that they go through. I think it is important for me to try and feedback to the people that are coming in. My biggest thing is spreading love, and I think that is the most important thing about being a leader. You got to love one another to be able to work with somebody.”

The Pack will remain hopeful of recording better results, and Hellems and Bates will be relied on early and often if they want to see improvement in the win column during the 2021-2022 college basketball season.