Maverick Rowan to NC State: Wolfpack Land 4-Star SF Prospect

Maverick Rowan, a 4-star small forward from Florida, confirmed he has committed to play college basketball for the North Carolina State Wolfpack, announcing the decision on his Twitter account Sunday:

"

I have decided that I will be attending North Carolina State to play under Coach Mark Gottfried. Thank you for all your support. #Wolfpack

— Maverick Rowan (@maverickrowan) August 2, 2015"

Rowan is 247Sports' seventh-ranked small forward and the 39th-best prospect overall, according to the site's composite rankings. The 6'7", 200-pound wing figures to be a key piece of N.C. State's future.

Originally part of the 2016 class, Rowan is now considered a part of the 2015 class. After letting it be known that he was flirting with the idea of reclassifying, that is precisely what he wound up doing. To do so means he has uncommon maturity for his age and is eager to make an impact at the NCAA level.

Rowan hinted at setting his sights on college after the Fort Lauderdale native led Cardinal Gibbons High School to a second state championship:

"

Received my second state championship ring today | 2x FL&PA | Now time to move on to bigger and better things... pic.twitter.com/ZkmiW47mmo

— Maverick Rowan (@maverickrowan) June 19, 2015"

Since he is making the leap a year early, N.C. State can afford to temper expectations on him for the time being and even redshirt him if it wishes to develop him on its own terms. On the other hand, Rowan may be talented enough to make a solid contribution as a true freshman.

With the type of skill set normally reserved for a 2-guard, Rowan figures to be a matchup nightmare for college defenders in the years to come. He knows how to work off the ball and is a savvy decision-maker who can find open teammates effectively.

A quick release and knack for creating separation off the bounce to either shoot from the perimeter or take it to the rim make Rowan a particularly difficult defensive assignment. What he has to focus most on is defense, where he'll likely struggle against quicker wings.

As long as N.C. State can mask Rowan's shortcomings on that end of the floor with strong play around him, he can become a solid all-around player who is capable of carrying the scoring load. Rowan seems to have a high floor and comes from a winning prep background, which suggests he can be a considerable success story for the Wolfpack.