Ernest Ross, a 2021 4-star forward from Florida, announced his commitment to NC State roughly a month after receiving the offer.
“At the end of the day it boiled down to him having a great relationship with coach [Kevin] Keatts and his staff,” his AAU coach Russ Powell told 247Sports’ Evan Daniels. Kevin Keatts persisted with his recruiting pitch despite the COVID-19 pandemic limitations.
Ross played sparingly on the 17U Adidas Gauntlet AAU circuit for Game Elite last summer, alongside 2020 NC State commit Ebenezer Dowouna. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 2.8 PPG & 3.8 RPG over 5 games. He also plays for Santa Fe High School in Alachua, Florida.
Ross is ranked 38th in the class of 2021, per 247Sports, ranking 8th in his position and 3rd in his state. He becomes the 2nd player in NC State’s 2021 recruiting class, in which they are projected to only have three scholarships available. He joins NC native and top-100 guard Terquavion Smith as a Wolfpack commit. Nabbing a top 40 player in 2021 will help offset the loss of top 40 2020 player Josh Hall to the NBA Draft.
The athleticism and length that Ernest Ross brings to the floor should offer the ideal type of versatility that Kevin Keatts loves. Look for Ross to be an important player in Raleigh.
