NC State picks up ex-Baylor guard Al Freeman

Former Baylor guard Al Freeman will play for NC State next season as a graduate transfer, he told Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports on Wednesday.

Freeman averaged 9.4 points per game for the Bears in 2016-17, shooting 43 percent from the field and 39 percent from downtown. Though relatively productive, Freeman saw his role reduced, which contributed to his desire to search for a new home.

Freeman's arrival in Raleigh comes as big news for NC State, which must replace outgoing star Dennis Smith Jr. and his team-high 18.1 points per contest.

NC State struggled to a 15-17 record last season, and the program subsequently replaced head coach Mark Gottfried with UNC Wilmington's Kevin Keatts.