Independent analyst and prospect scout Roe Mello Reyes continued his popular series with a detailed graphic for the North Carolina State Wolfpack at No. 18 in his 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 50 NCAA women’s basketball rankings with predicted rotations.
The post highlights both the team’s losses from a squad that finished last season ranked in the top 30 in power rankings and the strong returning core that keeps them in the national conversation.
Key Details from Roe’s NC State Graphic
- Head Coach: Wes Moore (longtime leader with a strong regular-season record).
- Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference.
- Last Year’s Record/Power Ranking: Noted in context of prior success (around 21-11 in 2025-26 per related reports).
- Key Players Departing:
- Zamareya Jones (5-7 G, approximately 14.9 PPG, transferred to Louisville).
- Tilda Trygger (6-6 F, approximately 10.6 PPG and 7.0 RPG, transferred to Washington).
- D. Quigley (5-11 G, transferred to Penn State).
Predicted Rotation Highlights (with approximate prior-season stats):
- G Zoe Brooks (Sr., Plainfield, NJ) — 32.9 MPG, 16.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.7 SPG.
- G Desiree Wooten (R-Sr., transfer from Colorado) — 26.6 MPG, 13.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.6 APG.
- W Qadence Samuels (Sr.) — 25.8 MPG, 6.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG.
- F Maddie Cox (Sr.).
- F Khamil Pierre (Sr., Phoenix, AZ) — 31.8 MPG, 16.7 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.0 SPG.
- New/Added:
- W Kamora Pruitt (Fr. recruit, St. Louis, MO).
- F Khady Leye (Jr. transfer from Auburn).
- G Destiny Lunan (So.).
Respect for the Pack: Two Potential All-Americans Return
Roe’s placement at No. 18 demonstrates notable respect for NC State despite meaningful departures. The Wolfpack return a dynamic duo in Zoe Brooks and Khamil Pierre, both of whom earned WBCA All-America Honorable Mention honors and First-Team All-ACC recognition for the 2025-26 season.
- Khamil Pierre anchored the frontcourt with double-double production (16.7 PPG, 11.9 RPG).
- Zoe Brooks provided versatile scoring and playmaking from the perimeter (16.0 PPG, 4.3 APG).
Combined with experienced contributors like Qadence Samuels and additions via transfer (Wooten, Leye) and recruiting (Pruitt), Roe sees enough talent and continuity under Wes Moore to project a top-20 team. This stands out as optimistic compared to some broader early evaluations.
Comparison to Other Way-Too-Early Top 25 Rankings
Roe’s No. 18 for NC State is higher than most mainstream early rankings released in April 2026 (post-2025-26 season and transfer portal activity). Here’s context from other prominent projections:
- CBS Sports (April 2026): NC State at No. 23. They noted the team’s experience edge after a down year without seniors, praising the return of leading scorers Khamil Pierre and Zoe Brooks (plus Qadence Samuels’ championship pedigree from UConn).
- ESPN (updated April 30, 2026 by Charlie Creme): NC State listed among teams “also considered” for the Top 25 (outside the ranked 1-25). The updated list had South Carolina at No. 1 after portal moves.
Other notable early rankings (varying by source, April 2026):
- Common top teams across lists: UConn, South Carolina, Duke, Michigan, USC, Texas, LSU, Louisville, Iowa.
- Roe’s own series (ongoing in June 2026) has featured higher-ranked teams including No. 3 USC, No. 4 Louisville (who added Jones from NC State), No. 5 Michigan, No. 6 LSU, No. 7 Texas, No. 8 Notre Dame, No. 9 Duke, and others.
Rankings naturally fluctuate with portal activity, injuries, and recruiting developments between now and November 2026.
Roe’s Balanced Take
This reflects a realistic yet respectful view: NC State has star power and experience returning but must address specific roster gaps to contend at a high level in the loaded ACC and nationally.
Bottom Line
Roe Mello Reyes’ No. 18 ranking for the 2026-27 NC State Wolfpack stands out as one of the more bullish early projections. It underscores the high regard for Brooks and Pierre as potential All-Americans and the program’s foundation under Wes Moore. While other analysts slot the Pack in the low-to-mid 20s or just outside the top 25, Roe’s detailed rotation-based approach gives them clear top-20 upside.
As the offseason progresses with more portal moves and official rankings, it will be interesting to see how NC State’s position evolves. Roe’s full Top 50 series continues to provide in-depth, graphic-driven analysis that fans and scouts appreciate.
Also Take Note
Roe also has Khamil Pierre’s scouting report pinned to his X Account. We noted this report a few weeks ago. Give Roe a follow, he desrves it!
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