<a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/nc-state-wolfpack/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NC State</a> men’s basketball filled the final spot on its retooled coaching staff Wednesday with the reported hiring of <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/arizona-state-sun-devils/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arizona State</a> coach Joel Justus. The Wolfpacker learned of the news early Wednesday afternoon, and <a href="https://twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/status/1534573729291853826?s=20&t=EPeXMVjyXiKMCV1tYunZhQ">Jeff Goodman</a> was the first to report the hiring. 



Justus, who graduated from UNC Wilmington, coached at <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/">Kentucky</a> prior to his stop in Tempe and was considered the lead recruiter for many of their-five star recruits during that time, helping the Wildcats record the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class in 2020. 



In addition to attending college in North Carolina, Justus is familiar with the state from his time at  Davidson Day School, where he worked as the head basketball coach. He also spent time as an assistant at Elon from 2004-2008. Kentucky hired him just two seasons into his career at Davidson Day as the team’s director of analytics, and Justus quickly worked his way into an assistant coaching role. 



He worked in that position for five seasons and was even named to The Athletic’s <a href="https://theathletic.com/2139422/2020/10/19/40-under-40-rising-stars-who-are-set-to-take-their-best-shot-in-mens-hoops/">40 under 40</a> list for men’s college basketball in 2020. During his time at the school, he was listed as the primary recruiter for some of their top prospects according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/31309529/kentucky-wildcats-men-basketball-assistant-joel-justus-leaves-top-assistant-job-arizona-state-sources-say">ESPN</a>, including Miami Heat forward and Northside High School alumnus <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/bam-adebayo-9262/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bam Adebayo</a>. He was also the lead recruiter for <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/shai-gilgeous-alexander-106215/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander</a> and <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/johnny-juzang-142362/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johnny Juzang</a>. Juzang later transferred and just wrapped up a career as a star for UCLA.



To go along with his recruiting acumen, his bio at <a href="https://thesundevils.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/joel-justus/4539">Arizona State</a> said he played a vital part in the development of several of Kentucky’s best guards during that time, including Gilgeous-Alexander and <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/tyler-herro-117691/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tyler Herro</a>, who both developed into NBA lottery picks during 



“From Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/keldon-johnson-141761/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Keldon Johnson</a> to <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/immanuel-quickley-49033/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Immanuel Quickley</a> and others, Joel was not only the point guy with some of our players who became special, he helped develop them, teach them and challenge them,” Kentucky head coach John Calipari said in a statement after Justus departed for the Sun Devils. 



That experience developing guards could make Justus a welcomed addition for NC State star guard <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/terquavion-smith-111282/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Terquavion Smith</a>, who recently announced he is <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/nc-state-wolfpack/news/nc-state-basketball-terquavion-smith-return/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">returning to Raleigh</a> for his sophomore season after impressing scouts during the NBA draft process. 



Finalizing a full staff



Justus is the third assistant coaching hire head coach Kevin Keatts has made this year after completely retooling his staff following a last-place ACC finish in the 2021-22 season. Keatts hired Clemson assistant <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/nc-state-wolfpack/news/kareem-richardson-nc-state-basketball-assistant/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kareem Richardson</a> and Ole Miss assistant <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/nc-state-wolfpack/news/nc-state-basketball-levi-watkins-hired/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Levi Watkins</a> to replace Mike Summey and Roy Roberson earlier this year, and a third assistant coach position opened up in May when James Johnson <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/nc-state-wolfpack/news/james-johnson-nc-state-basketball/">stepped down</a>. 



The connections to the Carolinas will run deep in this staff between Justus’ history with the region, Richardson’s experience coaching nearby, and Levi Watkins, who played for the Wolfpack 2002-2005. 



——



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