Keith Sampson Jr. Stops By NC State
NC State welcomed unofficial visitor Keith Sampson Jr. of New Bern (N.C.) High on Friday at camp.Sampson watched the lineman go to work at the Close-King Indoor Facility, and had a good conversation with NCSU defensive line coach Charley Wiles. He verbally committed Florida State on March 5, but he’ll use some visits to “make sure” he is picking the best college for him. He’ll head to FSU tonight for a two-day unofficial visit this weekend, and then will officially visit North Carolina on June 24-26.
Rivals.com ranks the three-star prospect the No. 16 overall player in the state of North Carolina in the class of 2023.
Sampson said NC State coaches all respected his decision to pick Florida State and he appreciated that gesture.
“I want to see everybody again and make sure I am making the right decision,” Sampson said. “Anything can happen, so I just want to make sure everything is right.
“I’ve been talking to Coach Wiles and Coach Merci [Falaise], and just keep having good communication with those guys.”
Sampson is no stranger to seeing NC State. He attended a Junior Day in late January, and also was at the thrilling comeback win over North Carolina on Nov. 26.
“That game was electric,” Sampson said. “At first, I was sitting down with my parents. Then Aiden Hollingsworth and I went down to the student section because his brother is here [at NCSU]. As soon as we saw what happened, we stormed the field. It was really crazy.”
Another advantage NC State has is his friendship with senior H-back commit Javonte Vereen of Havelock (N.C.) High. The two want to officially visit NC State together in the future.
“Javonte, he is a persuasive guy and he’s my guy,” Sampson said. “I’ve known Javonte for a while. To go through this recruiting process with him, and we are both from the same area [in eastern N.C.], so it is always good to see guys from our area do something good.
“I’ll probably take more officials in the fall. I have one for Florida State around Oct. 29, and I’m trying to line one up with NC State. I’ll have to talk to Javonte.”
Sampson was honest with the Florida State coaches and knows how key good communication is.
One of the appeals to NC State and UNC is that his family and friends can make the short drive to see him play in college.
“My aunt goes to NC State and I have other aunts and relatives that live in Knightdale, N.C., and Raleigh area,” Sampson said. “I’m a momma’s boy. She feels fine with me going to Florida State, but I know in her heart, she’d love for me to be closer.”
Sampson has also been following the other recruits that NC State in the class of 2023. It’s a big contingent of in-state products, several of which started their official visit Thursday night.
“Of course, you want to get a whole bunch of North Carolina guys to play together because nobody knows North Carolina like North Carolina guys,” Sampson said.
Georgia Contingent Arrives
The unofficial visitors added spice to Friday’s camp.Kennesaw (Ga.) North Cobb Christian interior lineman Gabriel Fortson watched camp intently and what NCSU offensive line coach John Garrison was teaching.
Fortson is a relative newcomer to recruiting attention with about 19 scholarship offers since May 1. He has officially visited Georgia Tech and has plans to see UNC on June 24-26 with good friend Robert Grigsby from nearby North Cobb High, the public school in Kennesaw. Grigsby just officially visited NC State on June 10-12.
Fortson said he also will check out East Carolina this weekend while in the state.
Separately, the Buford (Ga.) High trio of junior athlete KJ Bolden and defensive end KingJoseph Edwards and junior cornerback Jaylen Neal came Friday for their unofficial visit.
Bolden has 35 scholarship offers, but not one from NC State. That likely changes Friday. Rivals.com ranks him No. 30 overall in the class of 2024 nationally.
Edwards had been to NC State in the past and the Wolfpack have offered him. The 6-5, 242-pounder is ranked No. 138 nationally by Rivals.com and 33 scholarship offers.
Neal is a three-star prospect with 13 scholarship offers, including Arkansas, Colorado, Duke, Michigan State, Missouri, Penn State and Central Florida from Power Five Conferences.
Burlington (N.C.) Cummings junior wide receiver Jonathan Paylor came by to support prep teammate Khavarie Hightower, who ripped off a 4.44-second 40-yard dash at 5-5 and 149 pounds. Paylor is expected to unofficially visit North Carolina on Saturday.
