HighSchool OT

Holiday Invitational

Karl Towns excited about NC State offer

Aug 24, 2012

NC State became the latest school to extend an offer to Karl Towns on Thursday.

Towns, a 6-foot-11 and 235-pound center, is on a trip that includes all three Atlantic Coast Conference schools in the Triangle.

"I've been visiting so many schools, North Carolina and NC State so far, and tomorrow is Duke," Towns told WRAL on Thursday evening. "Everything's just so crazy and hectic just trying to get to all these schools in a matter of three days and it's just a blessing that all these schools are really showing interest in me."

Towns is a 5-star prospect and is ranked the No. 1 player in the Class of 2015, according to ESPN.com. This summer, Towns played for the Dominican Republic National Team during the Olympic qualifying period. The team was coached by Kentucky coach John Calipari.

NC State is the first Triangle school to offer Towns.

"Coach [Mark] Gottfried officially gave it to me today. I was very excited about that," Towns said of his offer from the Wolfpack. "The team really looks to be and is aspiring to be one of the top, dominant programs."

His earlier visit with the Tar Heels did not result in an offer, but Towns thinks one may be coming from head coach Roy Williams down the road.

"North Carolina is really showing a lot of interest and hopefully they give me an offer soon, and I really think it's going to come soon," he said.

Towns said academics will play a big role in where he goes to school, but the basketball program – specifically the players and coaches – will also be important.

"Players really influence where other players go. Players want to play with the best and players want to win," Towns said. "But at the same time the coaching staff is a big point, you've got to feel comfortable with the coaches that are teaching you."

There is not specific time when Towns expects to have a decision made. Right now, he's taking the whole process in stride.

"The timetable is as long as I want it to be," he said. "At the end of the day I'm going to look to my family, my coaches, and we're going to make a decision on that day. Hopefully that day is soon but it could be far, so I think everybody should just stay tuned."

According to ESPN.com, Towns also has offers from Connecticut, Michigan State, Rutgers, Seton Hall, St. John's, Syracuse and Villanova.

St. Joseph (Metuchen, N.J.) and Towns will play in the 2012 HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational on Dec. 26-29 at Broughton High School's Holliday Gymnasium.

• Reporter: Jeff Gravley
• Photographer: Ken Medlin
• Web Editor: Nick Stevens