PackWBB.com

Maddie Cox had a productive junior season as a key bench forward for NC State, emerging as a versatile, high-motor contributor who provided efficient perimeter shooting, strong rebounding, rim protection, and defensive versatility in a reserve role that helped stabilize the Wolfpack frontcourt on a young, senior-less roster.

Key 2025-26 Stats (from official team final stats)

• 32 games, 3 starts, averaging 15.3 minutes per game, a jump from her sophomore year (30 GP, 7.9 MPG) as she earned consistent rotation minutes.
• Scoring: 2.8 PPG (89 total points; 30-75 FG, .400 FG%; 14-38 3FG, .368 3PT%; 15-17 FT, .882 FT%). She shot career-best percentages from the field, beyond the arc, and at the line while adding occasional scoring bursts.
• Rebounding/Defense: 2.8 RPG (89 total,14 offensive, 75 defensive); 0.4 BPG (12 blocks, team-high among non-starters); 0.3 SPG (11 steals); 0.8 APG (25 assists); 0.6 TO per game.
• Advanced/milestones: Finished with a PER of 11.7 and appeared in all 32 games (part of a 35-game consecutive streak). She posted career highs across nearly every category and was a reliable “glue” player in a rotation that helped NC State post a +9.6 scoring margin and +6.1 rebounding margin.

Cox was part of the 21-11 (13-5 ACC) squad that advanced to the NCAA Tournament second round.

Accolades

• CSC Academic All-District (first-time selection; business administration major with a 3.7 GPA).
• Heart of the Pack Award (February 2026 winner, recognizes outstanding character, leadership, and community impact).
• PNC Achievers Program (Spring 2026 honoree).
• Two-time All-ACC Academic Team and two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll recipient; Dean’s List and NC State scholar-athlete in all five semesters.

(Note: No on-court All-ACC or weekly honors, consistent with her bench role, but her academic excellence and intangibles earned program-wide recognition.)

Other Objective Highlights & Context

• Career highs in PPG, RPG, APG, BPG, minutes per game, and games started as a junior. She more than tripled her sophomore-year scoring and rebounding output while improving efficiency dramatically.
• Standout performances included a career-high 11 points vs. Coastal Carolina and 12 rebounds vs. Seton Hall; she also had strong showings in ACC and NCAA play with timely 3-pointers, second-effort plays, and energy off the bench.
• Background: 6-2 forward from Flower Mound, TX (Flower Mound HS); four-year starter in high school who averaged a double-double as a senior (17.2 PPG, 11.9 RPG) and set school records for assists while surpassing 1,000 career points. Known for length, physicality, and ability to impact games on both ends without needing heavy minutes.
• Helped lead a young Wolfpack team to 21-11 overall, ACC Tournament quarterfinals, and the NCAA Second Round (win vs. Tennessee, loss vs. Michigan). Coach Wes Moore and teammates frequently praised her as a locker-room leader and versatile piece who could score inside/out and defend multiple positions.

Bottom line: Cox quietly became one of NC State’s most reliable depth pieces, a high-IQ, efficient forward whose shooting, rebounding, and defense gave the team balance and toughness in a bench role. Her numerous academic and character honors, combined with career-best production, underscored her value beyond the box score on a team that exceeded expectations. With one year of eligibility remaining, she projects as a potential sixth-woman candidate for the 2026-27 Wolfpack as they return several key veterans. The only minor area for growth was overall volume, but her efficiency and intangibles made her an invaluable contributor all season.