Elite NC State women’s basketball recruit Elle Sutphin reclassifies to 2019

In men’s college basketball recruiting, it’s become common to see prospects reclassify from one graduating year to another, especially among the elite players. That trend hasn’t impacted the women’s game, but maybe that’s beginning to change.

Elle Sutphin, who is a top-50 player in the 2020 class and NC State commit, decided recently to reclassify and graduate in 2019, joining the Wolfpack a year early. She was encouraged by State’s coaching staff to do so.

Here’s what she told Jay Spivey of the Winston-Salem Journal about the move:

“This year kind of depends on me,” said Sutphin, who is 6-foot-3. “If I’m doing well and going into the offense well, and the chemistry is going good then I’ll probably play.

”If I go in there and I’m a little over my head and overwhelmed then I’ll probably redshirt and train for a year and get ready for next year to be on the court and to handle that.”

Even if she does end up redshirting, there’s definitely value to being in the program for a year that’ll help her hit the ground running in 2020.

Sutphin is a nice boost to what was already an outstanding incoming freshman class. She’s ranked as the No. 39 overall player in the 2020 class by ESPN and no doubt would rank similarly for 2019. NC State is also welcoming in three other top-100 players: 6’0 wing Jakia Brown-Turner (No. 16 in ESPN top 100), 6’2 forward Jada Boyd (No. 34), and 6’1 forward Camille Hobby (No. 99).

The future is bright for this group.