NC State's basketball news has been difficult to process. We understand the professional aspirations of Trevor Lacey, we acknowledge the increased playing time wishes for Kyle Washington, but that doesn't alter the bitter feeling entrenched in the psyche of Wolfpack fans. We're far from alone, however, as State's departures merely reflect the college game as a whole.
For Lacey specifically, his case is somewhat unusual. Most future NBA players don't return for senior years, and even the ones who do often aren't 24-years-old when the season starts. The case may be unusual, but the sentiment fans are left with is far from it.