3:20 PM
The No. 1-ranked shooting guard in the 2023 class, Robert Dillingham, has committed to NC State.
The highest-ranked recruit of the Kevin Keatts era and the highest-ranked NC State commit since Dennis Smith Jr. in the 2016 class are both named Dillingham.
He chose NC State over a final five that also included Memphis, Kentucky, LSU and Kansas.
Over the past few months, it looked like Memphis, LSU and Kentucky were the favorites for his commitment. He went to LSU, Kentucky, and NC State in October after taking an official visit to Memphis in September.
A guard from North Carolina who transferred to Donda Academy in California for his junior season, he is ranked 8 in the ESPN 100. He is the top-ranked shooting guard and the second-ranked backcourt player.
In 11 games for the U16 Nike EYBL circuit, he averaged 19.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists, while shooting 42% from the 3-point range. He averaged 15.7 points and 6.2 assists in six games for USA Basketball at the U16 Americas.
"Dillingham is a gifted scorer from all spots on the floor," said Paul Biancardi, the national recruiting director. He is one of the best at creating his own space and scoring opportunities. He knows how to find the open pocket of space on the floor with his natural blow-by speed, shifty handle and low center of gravity.
He knows how to decelerating as he goes into a scoring move. His jumper is effective in ball-screen offense and coming off screens. He has an innate ability to score in one-on-one situations and keeps defenders off-balance before his release. He puts enormous pressure on the defense by probing and attacking.
NC State's first commitment is in the class of 2023.
