NC State men’s hoops picks up another commitment. Who’s playing for the Pack
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- RJ Keene committed to NC State as a graduate transfer from Boise State.
- Keene averaged 2.7 points this year and recorded 193 career points.
- Keene contributed 345 rebounds, 129 assists, 52 steals and 25 blocks.
N.C. State added a much-needed shooting guard to its upcoming roster Friday afternoon.
Graduate transfer RJ Keene committed to the Wolfpack after five seasons at Boise State. He redshirted as a true freshman and received a medical waiver during his sophomore season.
Keene is a self-described “glue guy” willing to do it all for the Broncos. Several fans congratulated him after his announcement and complimented his effort.
That’s something first-year head coach Justin Gainey prioritized when discussing ideal player profiles.
“Our team is going to defend, we’re going to rebound, and we’re going to take care of the basketball. It’s that simple,” Gainey said after his hire. “When you watch us play on TV, I want you to be able to say that’s the hardest-playing team in the country. That’s what we’re hanging our hat on.”
The senior is not known for his scoring abilities, recording 193 career points and only making 23 foul shots. He averaged 2.7 points in 31 appearances this year.
Keene, however, added 345 total rebounds, 129 assists to 43 turnovers, 52 steals and 25 blocks during his Boise State career. He had at least 100 rebounds in two consecutive seasons and, this year, contributed seven or more boards in seven different games. He never turned the ball over more than 19 times in a season.
According to Bart Torvik and Evan Miyakawa, two college basketball analytics experts, list Keene as one of the best defenders in the country. Miyakawa called Keene “the best player in CBB who doesn’t score.”
Despite playing a limited role for the Broncos, Keene showed steady improvement each year, improving his scoring, rebounding rate and overall contributions.
During the Wolfpack’s 81-70 win over the Broncos last season during the Maui Invitational, Keene scored a season-high eight points and pulled down five rebounds.
Keene was a three-star recruit in high school. He is from The Woodlands, Texas, and attended Concordia Lutheran. He largely flew under the radar during the first portion of his collegiate career.
He was another somewhat unexpected pickup for the Wolfpack after Washington State transfer Eemeli Yalaho committed on Thursday. With his addition, the Wolfpack is up to five transfers, and he fills a major void in the guard rotation.
This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 5:14 PM with the headline "NC State men’s hoops picks up another commitment. Who’s playing for the Pack."
