New NC State transfer pickup Mike James brings a lot of positive qualities to the table, though perhaps the most important among them is his ability to get downhill with either hand and draw contact.
James has been very good at getting to the foul line in two college seasons, and for somebody who is a career 80% free throw shooter, that’s handy. Last year he earned 154 free throw attempts, giving him a free throw rate above 50% (154 FTA/303 FGA). That ranked 140th nationally.
State’s leader in that category, among qualified players, was Jayden Taylor, who ranked 350th in FTR. (Ben Middlebrooks, had he qualified, would have been among the nation’s best.)
James needs to finish more consistently inside the arc this season—he made only 42.6% of his twos in 2024—but showed that he’s capable when he hit 52% inside the arc as a freshman. He’s not a bad passer, either, and I’d expect we’ll see a boost in his assist rate in State’s offense. Regardless, though, his ability to put pressure on defenses at the rim is going to pay dividends.
Between James and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, NC State has addressed a lingering weakness by adding a couple guys who can draw fouls in bunches. State hasn’t had the luxury of relying on much offense from the line over the last few seasons, making it more difficult to compensate for tough shooting nights. That looks like it’s going to change for the better.