This time last year, Omer Yurtseven was sitting on the N.C. State bench, waiting for his college career to begin.
The 7-0, 245-pound sophomore center from Turkey came to N.C. State last season with the idea of being a one-and-done player. He had to sit out the first nine games, under NCAA amateurism rules, because of his three-year tenure with his Turkish club.
He averaged just 5.9 points and 4.6 rebounds while playing 18.9 minutes in 22 games with 14 starts last season under then-coach Mark Gottfried. On a team where freshman point guard Dennis Smith, Jr.