The addition of Darrion Williams to NC State is significant for several reasons. For starters, he's been an incredibly productive player against high-level competition for years — amassing over 1,110 career points and earning two All-Big 12 selections. Often, when evaluating incoming ACC transfers, there's a need to consider a jump in competition, a change in role or the challenges of adapting to a new system. That's not the case with Williams. The substantial body of evidence points to him being a top-tier, plug-and-play offensive asset.
There's also the matter of positional scarcity when it comes to Williams. While he may be slightly undersized in terms of height and length for a 4, he's a playmaker at the power forward spot — something that's quite rare in college basketball. There just aren't many 4s who can operate on both sides of the pick-and-roll, score at all four levels and make smart decisions with the ball.
Will Wade, Andrew Slater, and the rest of NC State's staff have put together an impressive offseason, rebuilding the roster in just about eight weeks through the transfer portal, player retention and international commitments. But the addition of Darrion Williams isn't just a talent and skill upgrade — it's a true ceiling-raiser. His arrival in Raleigh enables the rest of the roster to slot into positive, efficient offensive roles. The Pack needed a playmaker — someone who could create in tough spots and drive the offense — and now they have that.
Let's examine how Williams creates offense — and how Wade might look to utilize his prized addition next season.