Ross was a former 4-star (247’s #60 in the '21 class) who has so far never put it together in three years at State, played 48 total minutes last year. Ultimately decided to potentially stay a bench piece (probably stuck behind Middlebrooks, BHH, Dennis Parker, and Dontrez Styles going into the season) and get his NC State degree rather than chase PT for one year halfway across the country. Nothing wrong with that I think.
State’s roster (now at 13 I believe) after this news:
| Departures | PG DJ Horne (Graduated) | 40 G, 32.6 mpg, 16.9 ppg, 2.1 apg, 40% 3P% | ||
| G LJ Thomas (Transferred to Austin Peay) | 12 G, 7.5 mpg, 2.6 ppg, 0.8 apg, 57% 3P% | |||
| G Kam Woods (Transferred to TBD) | 13 G, 7.5 mpg, 1.2 ppg, 0.2 apg, 40% 3P% | |||
| SG Casey Morsell (Graduated) | 41 G, 32.5 mpg, 11.1 ppg, 1.6 apg, 27% 3P% | |||
| PF Mohamed Diarra (Turned Pro) | 40 G, 22.1 mpg, 6.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 48% FG% | |||
| C D.J. Burns (Graduated) | 41 G, 24.9 mpg, 12.9 ppg, 4 rpg, 53% FG% | |||
| Returners | PG Breon Pass (SR) | 31 G, 5.3 mpg, 1.3 ppg, 0.3 apg, 33% 3P% | ||
| G Michael O’Connell (SR+) | 41 G, 25 mpg, 5.7 ppg, 3.2 apg, 38% 3P% | |||
| SG Jayden Taylor (SR) | 41 G, 27.3 mpg, 11.2 ppg, 1.3 apg, 36% 3P% | |||
| G/F MJ Rice (RS SO) | 9 G, 8.8 mpg, 4.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 23% 3P% | |||
| F Dennis Parker (SO) | 29 G, 15.4 mpg, 4.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 31% 3P% | |||
| PF Ernest Ross (SR) | 14 G, 3.4 mpg, 0.3 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 18% FG% | |||
| F/C Ben Middlebrooks (SR) | 41 G, 16.3 mpg, 5.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 49% FG% | |||
| Additions | SG Marcus Hill (SR Transfer, Bowling Green) | 34 G, 36.3 mpg, 20.5 ppg, 2.6 apg, 29% 3P% | ||
| SG Trey Parker (3-star FR) | ||||
| SF Michael James (RS JR Transfer, Louisville) | 32 G, 33.3 mpg, 12.6 ppg, 5 rpg, 34% 3P% | |||
| SF Paul McNeil (4-star FR) | ||||
| F Dontrez Styles (SR Transfer, Georgetown) | 32 G, 33.5 mpg, 12.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 37% 3P% | |||
| F/C Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (SR Transfer, Louisville) | 32 G, 30.8 mpg, 12.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 57% FG% |
