Ven-Allen Lubin has embraced learning from constant trips in transfer portal

By Noah Fleischman

CHARLOTTE — Ven-Allen Lubin has grown accustomed to packing up his apartment to move elsewhere. His first three collegiate seasons have culminated in entering the transfer portal to look for a new home. Through that, the forward has become adaptable. There’s not much he hasn’t seen by now. 

But this isn’t the path that Lubin saw himself taking. At first, he believed he’d spend his entire career at Notre Dame before Mike Brey was fired. His next stop, Vanderbilt, ended with Jerry Stackhouse being let go, creating another entry into college basketball’s free agency window. 

And while he became North Carolina’s best player in the final 10 games last season, Lubin “wasn’t used properly, so he left,” as NC State coach Will Wade put it. That winding path led Lubin to the Wolfpack, the very program he averaged 8.5 points and 7.0 rebounds against with the Tar Heels. 

As Lubin has navigated his journey through the sport he grew up in love with, he’s learned how to assimilate into the very different cultures he’s landed in. It was a challenge, at least at first, but the 6-foot-9, 250-pound big man has found a way to be successful in becoming a chameleon. 

“It wasn’t easy. It was definitely stressful, just keeping it real,” Lubin said at ACC Tipoff on Wednesday afternoon. “It was something I was frustrated about because I wanted to be in a place where I can grow and develop myself and relationships to be in a stable environment. Something like this was very different for me. I was able to not lose myself in it, as well as adapt to new circumstances, situations, environments, people, and just respond the right way to gain something from it.”

Lubin, who was one of NC State’s marquee transfer portal pickups in EvanMiya’s No. 3-ranked class this offseason, has done everything in his power to make the most of his constant changing of jerseys to don. He’s grown comfortable with being uncomfortable, the key to his ability to change teams without skipping a beat. 

“Just opening up and stepping outside my comfort zone, not in a way of me being an introvert or a quiet person, but being more vocal and putting myself out there to learn about my teammates, coaches and for them to learn more about me,” Lubin said. “I have the maturity and experience to help this team out. I really just appreciate the opportunity to be able to play for the program. … I just want to be valued.”

It appeared that his process worked as he joined the Wolfpack, which returned just one scholarship player in sophomore guard Paul McNeil. NC State acquired eight other transfers with four freshmen to round out Wade’s first roster in Raleigh. 

“I think this is the most-connected team I’ve ever been on, not to discredit any other programs,” Lubin said. “But the way we were able to gel and bond the first week that we all got here, just bringing out the differences in us and being able to accept them and to be welcomed with a sense of belonging from everybody was really, really huge for us. I think that will help get us far.”

Although he’s now been with three of the ACC’s 18 programs, Lubin has taken it all in stride, despite what others may say. In fact, Lubin said he didn’t pay much attention to social media in his move from UNC to NC State. 

The Orlando, Fla., native became the first player to make the transfer directly from Chapel Hill to Raleigh (Dontrez Styles stopped at Georgetown in between the two programs), which came with plenty of scrutiny from those clad in Carolina Blue. 

But for Lubin, it wasn’t about that. He was focused on making the best decision for himself — and his basketball career. That led him to buying into Wade’s aggressive style of basketball with the Pack. 

“This is my life and something I wanted to do. It’s something that made me happy, and something that will benefit me, my family and my future,” Lubin said. “I’ll always put that first and will always keep that focus.”

Wade, who is a loyal coach that backs his players at every turn, felt like Lubin has gotten a “bad rap” for his one-year stints at every school he has played at. But as he spoke about his likely starting center, Wade delivered a glowing review.

“He’s one of the finest human beings I’ve ever coached,” Wade said. “He needs none of my help. He can help our players. He needs zero help from me. He’s the most mature, ready person I’ve ever [coached]. He’s engaged. He’s so far ahead of most guys, it’s like he’s 35 years old — but he moves like he’s 25.”

NC State believes it will get Lubin from two seasons ago, when he was most productive in his college career with 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in his campaign at Vanderbilt. Couple that with his efficient 68.4 field goal percentage last year at UNC, and Lubin is a critical piece of what the Pack wants to do this season. 

Wade didn’t shy away from that either. 

“He’s somebody that’s been rock solid for us. Quite frankly, he’s one of our most valuable guys,” Wade said. “It’s kind of like Noah’s Ark, we’ve got two of everything, but we ain’t got but one of him. … We need him to be healthy, we need him to be right. We can make up for a lot of stuff in some of the other spots, but there’s only one of him on the boat. We need him.”

After all, Lubin wanted to feel needed. NC State provided that for him, and now he’s positioned to have a career season in Raleigh. Wade sold that vision to him in the transfer portal, and it’s something that he can already see in the Wolfpack’s preseason practices inside the Dail Basketball Center. 

“He’s going to keep it real with you. That’s something I really admire about him. Something he sees in me is just to max out my potential. He’s seen that I haven’t been able to do that at my previous stops, and that’s something he’s willing to do for me, and for me to do everything I can to impact this program.”

Lubin is focused on what’s ahead of him. He traded in the light shade of blue for a dark red with the Wolfpack, making the shortest drive of his transfer-portal-laden career. It made for an easier move, going just 34 miles down I-40. 

That he could laugh about afterwards.

“It’s right down the road,” Lubin said with a grin. “A lot of things to move, but it was definitely easier.”