NC State basketball recruiting: All 4 members of 2018 class sign early with the Wolfpack

The NCAA’s early signing period began on Wednesday and the four members of NC State’s 2018 class wasted no time signing on the dotted line, making Kevin Keatts’ first recruiting class official.

After shoring up his back court of the future through the transfer market this offseason, Keatts addressed his program’s needs up front, bringing in several big men who should contribute right off the bat next year.

The highest rated of the group is 6’7 wing Saddiq Bey, who is the No. 83 overall prospect in the class per the 247Sports composite. Power forward Manny Bates is another top 100 kid, and while he’s listed at 6’9, 195 by 247, he says he’s now 6’11 and 220, which is kind of a big (pun!) deal.

Power forward Ian Steere, a one-time Creighton verbal and currently Bates’ teammate at Fayetteville (NC) Northwood Temple Academy, is listed at 6’9 and 261 pounds. Wing Jericole Hellems, who is from St. Louis, rounds out the group.

All four guys are consensus four-star recruits, and NC State’s class is currently ranked 13th nationally. At this point, only three ACC schools have higher-rated classes (UNC, Notre Dame, Wake Forest).