NC State's Iverson Series

Examining NC State's base offense and some of its more clever wrinkles

The spread pick-and-roll offense of Kevin Keatts at NC State features several distinct setups to initiate various ball screen actions. One of NC State’s primary looks is its Iverson series, which begins with a 1-4 High set. In most cases, this alignment features the 4 and 5 at the elbows and the 2 and 3 on opposite wings.

To launch the possession, one of the guards will cut across from one wing to the other, running over two screens at the elbows from the 4 and 5 — that’s the “Iverson” cut. As this happens, the other guard will loop under the other three players, cutting through the lane to the opposite wing.

The point guard will pass to the player who just ran across the Iverson screens (Dereon Seabron above) and NC State will get to its pick-and-roll offense.

One of the primary actions in this Iverson series involves “Wedge” pick-and-roll. Wedge (or “Ram” or “Bump”) is a screen-the-screener pick-and-roll set — meaning one of the offensive players will set an off-ball screen for the player who is lifting up to set the ball screen (usually the center), thus placing their defender a step behind the movement.

Here’s the play in action: Seabron runs across the Iverson screens as Terquavion Smith glides to the opposite wing. Jericole Hellems sets the wedge screen for EB Dowuona, who sprints out to set the ball screen. As a result, Seabron gets downhill to his left.

The player initiating these ball screens from the wing has often been a dangerous attacking guard: Seabron, Devon Daniels, Terquavion Smith, Jarkel Joiner, DJ Horne and CJ Bryce, among others.

Here’s the same set from the 2019-20 season at Clemson: Daniels comes over the Iverson screens, Braxton Beverly clears to the left corner, and Hellems sets the wedge for Manny Bates.

Aamir Simms (25) is up at the level of the screen but not in a good guarding position, and Daniels is able to turn the corner left and get downhill for a layup.

From the 2020 ACC Tournament: it’s the same exact “Iverson Wedge” setup for Bryce. Hellems runs the wedge action with Funderburk. Bryce patiently waits for the hedge defender to retreat, and then gets a piece of the paint and scores.

Back in the 2018-19 season vs. Penn State: Beverly runs the Iverson cut and gets to his pull-up jumper — with the wedge coming from Hellems and Funderburk.

In the past, Keatts would also move Markell Johnson and Jarkel Joiner, two point guards who could really score, around the floor and let those two get off the ball before launching into screen-roll via Iverson.

NC State can also pressure different screen coverages by flipping the order of the 4 and 5. Instead of having the 4 (Hellems) set the wedge screen for a rim-running 5 (Dowuona, Funderburk or Bates), the 5 can set the first screen as the 4 (Pat Andree) runs out to set the ball screen. Andree “ghosts” the screen, but Johnson is still able to corkscrew his way to the rim.

Same look from the 2022-23 season: Burns sets the screen for Jack Clark to lift out and run the slip screen action for Smith. As Terq turns the corner, Burns does a nice job ducking in while also staying out of Smith’s path, thus creating the drop-off pass.

77 in a row

During the 2023-24 season, the Wolfpack used the “Iverson Wedge” action to flow into “77” ball screens — staggered screens for the ball handler, with one of the screeners popping and the other diving to the rim.

Same as before, NC State shows the wedge look: Mo Diarra screens for Dennis Parker Jr., who runs out to set a ball screen for Horne.

Diarra doesn’t space to the right wing, though. He, too, lifts to set a second ball screen for Horne.

This double action scrambles the Maryland Eastern Shore screen defenders, with the second defender hard hedging on Horne, which leaves three players on the ball. This is a win for the Pack; DPJ is open on the wing and Diarra is all alone on the dive. Horne sees this develop and hits Diarra for the dunk.

From earlier in the season against Charleston Southern: it’s the same “Wedge 77” action from NC State’s Iverson series — this time Diarra slips/pops and Burns dives. Jayden Taylor turns the corner, draws help and hits Burns with a nice pass for an easy layup.

Here, Taylor hits a pull-up 3 off the same action — from the comeback win at Notre Dame. Diarra and Ben Middlebrooks engage in the “Wedge 77” look for Taylor. Diarra pops and Middlebrooks dives. Notre Dame is in drop coverage and the on-ball defender goes under both screens — leaving Taylor with plenty of room to pull.

NC State will also run 77 pick-and-roll from the Iverson series without the wedge action.

On these possessions, both the 4 and 5 will lift up to set the staggered ball screens for the guard on the wing, following the initial pass, which is what happens here with Hellems and Funderburk. Cam Hayes passes to Beverly. Hellems sets the first screen and pops. Funderburk sets the second screen and dives. With Jay Huff hedging the screen, Funderburk is able to dive and seal deep in the paint, creating the hi-lo opening for Hellems.

Here’s the equivalent against Miami, with Bates and Funderburk setting the screens. Funderburk, who was a very productive player but offered little stretch, is largely ignored by Miami when he pops into space. The Hurricanes have this thing bottled up, but Daniels is just so persistent — dribbling 10+ times. Eventually, he’s able to burrow his way to the rim.

Frontcourt Rotation

If and when State deploys the double center lineups — with both Middlebrooks and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield on the floor at the same time — these kinds of double high or 77 looks could be useful.

Middlebrooks has yet to show much stretch (1-of-19 3PA career), but he’s comfortable handling in space and flowing into handoffs.

Look at Middlebrooks work on this possession vs. UNC: pick-and-pop in the middle of the floor, which Middlebrooks uses to flow into second-side action with Horne and an empty corner. With UNC in drop coverage (Armando Bacot in the paint), Middlebrooks is open in space and receives a pass on the short roll from Horne. Bacot recovers, but Middlebrooks is able to build on the possession despite a packed paint: dribbling, spinning, getting Jae’Lyn Withers in the air and then picking out a cutting Michael O’Connell.

Huntley-Hatfield showed hints of a 3-point jumper last season (9-of-21 3PA), too.

The Wolfpack were +33 in 100 minutes with Middlebrooks and Burns on the floor together last season. In recent seasons, including the 2022-23 campaign (when Burns played a lot with Ernest Ross and Greg Gantt), Keatts has been willing to play to two non-shooters on the floor together, thus sacrificing some of the program’s preferred 4-around-1 spacing, although some of that was partially due to injuries (Clark and Diarra) within the rotation.

Plus, Burns was such a good mid-post scorer and passer; he could still do damage despite suboptimal spacing.

Given the current personnel, though, I’d anticipate hybrid forwards/wings Dennis Parker Jr., Mike James, and Dontrez Styles sliding between the 3 and 4 and playing the majority of minutes at the de facto 4 spot, while Middlebrooks and BHH platoon at the 5. This role has been the domain of versatile forward-types, like Torin Dorn, Hellems, Clark, and Diarra. In these sets, that means fulfilling the second-screener role, working as the pop/slip player while Middlebrooks and BHH dive to the rim, or spacing out.

James was primarily used as a spot-up player last season for Louisville. It’ll be interesting to see if he gets more on-ball reps in Raleigh.. According to Synergy Sports, James used only 20 isolation possessions (0.9 points per possession, 41.7 FG%) and had only 44 possessions as a pick-and-roll ball handler (when he either used the possession or passed the ball to a teammate who used the possession).

Over the last two seasons, Casey Morsell played two different offensive roles for NC State, mostly working as a spot-up player in the 2022-23 campaign and then getting to attack more with the ball last year. James is a power wing who can slash. He will play a role that lands somewhere on this spectrum.

There’s a lot to like with Parker, a super active player on offense who is willing to slash, cut and hit the offensive glass. This is great second-side movement from DPJ; he turns the corner off the DHO and scrambles Miami’s defense with this unscripted give-and-go action with Burns.

Parker has another level to get to on offense. He needs to continue to improve his 3-point shot, but he’s a dangerous catch-and-go player and a good cutter with a nose for the rim.

5-Out Zoom

With two centers — Burns and Middlebrooks — who were comfortable initiating offense, NC State mixed in more 5-out sets during the 2023-24 season. These 5-out looks were frequently launched as another part of the program’s expanding Iverson series. Instead of going into Wedge pick-and-roll, the action would flow into 5-out — with the center lifting to the middle of the floor after the initial pass to the wing.

For instance, O’Connell passes to Morsell on the right wing, Diarra screens for Burns who comes to the middle of the floor, while Horne (keep an eye on him) cycles over to the left corner.

Morsell passes to Burns and now State is in its 5-out look: all five players above the arc and the ball in the middle of the floor.

The next part of the progression is 5-out “Zoom” action, which means a pindown for Horne (from Diarra) and into the dribble-handoff (DHO) with Burns. Charleston Southern is in drop coverage, Horne gets to his spot and drills the nail jumper.

Horne cooked all season long with this setup, but he was especially dangerous down the stretch — during State’s magical postseason run.

From the ACC title game: it’s the same 5-out play call, now with Middlebrooks in as the middle hub, not Burns. On the Zoom action for Horne, Bacot drops and UNC switches Cormac Ryan on the ball. UNC does a good job keeping the ball in front, but Horne uses this as an opportunity to get a pull-up 3.

Good defense, better offense.

It’s no different a few weeks later in the Sweet 16 vs. Marquette: NC State runs Iverson into 5-out Zoom. Middlebrooks knocks down Stevie Mitchell (4) with the DHO screen and Horne gets an uncontested 3.

When the defense commits two players to the ball, other things open up on the floor. From the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, Texas Tech puts two defenders on Horne: center Warren Washington (22) is up at the level of the screen as Joe Toussaint (6) fights over, which leaves Darrion Williams (5) left to handle two players in space, Middlebrooks on the dive and Diarra shaking up the wing.

Horne does well to touch the paint and pressure the defense — before he sprays the ball out to an open Diarra.

A veteran with good length and speed, Taylor can be an impactful driver in the half court. He will get plenty reps in these Zoom actions next season. This action should be emphasized for freshman Paul McNeil Jr., a potentially special shot-maker.

Wired to score and with NBA upside, McNeil looks like a ceiling-raiser for NC State’s offense. These kinds of actions, with proper spacing, would create a healthy playmaking environment for the incoming 2-guard.

Elevator: To the top floor

While the majority of State’s Iverson series is designed for pick-and-roll, there are some fun movement sets the Pack will use to create opportunities for their shooters, especially in after-timeout (ATO) situations. One of the ways this occurs is when NC State runs “Elevator doors” action from the Iverson series.

An elevator screen is when two screeners combine to set one giant off-ball screen for a shooter by coming together, shoulder to shoulder, after the offensive player runs between them — thus closing the elevator doors on the off-ball chase defender.

For NC State’s purposes, this starts with the Iverson cut: Hellems runs across the screens in this 2021 game vs. Pittsburgh and receives the pass from Shakeel Moore. Beverly cuts down from the right wing. However, Beverly doesn’t cut all the way through to the opposite corner. When he touches the paint, Beverly sprints up the middle of the lane.

As Beverly crosses over the foul line, Bates and Funderburk comes together, slamming the elevator doors shut on Beverly’s defender, Ithiel Horton.

Beverly takes advantage of the space and drills the 3-pointer, plus a foul, as Horton hurries to closeout on a dangerous outside shooter.

Keatts will assign his top movement shooter to fill this role, the player running through the elevator screen. From the 2021-22 season at Virginia Tech, Terq is now in this position. Smith misses, but he gets a good look from deep on this ATO play call.

One season later, it’s the same setup for Smith. This time, though, he attacks the space as Miami’s defense scrambles, creating a drop-off pass to Burns for 2.

During the 2023-24 season, it became Horne’s turn to take the elevator up. Similar to the Smith-Burns connection at Miami, Horne receives the pass and spins off another ball screen from Burns — touching the paint and scoring at the rim vs. Boston College.

NC State tried this Iverson Elevator play at the end of the game against Clemson; however, Ian Schieffelin (4) did a nice job switching out and sliding laterally vs. Horne.

Once more, this feels like another place we could see McNeil used next season. Get him running off movement; if the catch-and-shoot isn’t there, let him go to work in space.

Throwback

NC State has another counter to create a look for a shooter from the Iverson series — when playing defenses that deploy drop coverage and sink their centers into the paint. This play can be referred to as “Iverson Throwback.”

On this possession against Dayton, Joiner cuts across the Iverson screens and receives a pass from Smith. As Joiner dribbles right, Dayton center DaRon Holmes, drops into the paint, well below Dusan Mahorcic. Smith fakes left and then cuts right off a screen from Mahorcic — just as Joiner spins around and throws back to Smith for an open 3PA.

Look how this play works against drop. NC State essentially has a 2-on-1 with Holmes dropped in the lane; there’s no way he could really help on the screen, not without leaving the paint. There’s time and space for a catch-and-shoot.

Here’s the same set, this time against Clemson’s Ice coverage, with PJ Hall (24) dropped in the paint. Timing is key on this type of play, and Burns is a step behind. Joiner has to instruct him to turn and set the throwback screen for Smith. Still, as the defender goes under the screen, Smith has room to let it fly.

Again, NC State attacks Clemson’s coverage with this same Iverson Throwback set in the 2023-24 season — now with Horne coming off the screen. Clemson tries to pin Morsell on the right side of the floor, but as he spins, Horne comes off the screen, with Clark contesting the 3PA.

If the jumper isn’t open right off the catch, the possession can flow into pick-and-roll with the throwback cutter and screener. That’s what happens here with Moore and Bates, which ultimately earns Bates a shooting foul off a put-back attempt at the rim.

Horne wasn’t the only player who got his shot in this action last season, though. O’Connell is the featured player here in this ATO call against UNC in the ACC Tournament. You can actually see Bacot (5), dropped into the paint, calling out the throwback screen to Elliot Cadeau (2)

The player who comes over the Iverson screens also has the option to ignore the throwback pass and keep the ball — assuming there’s space to attack on the edge. That’s exactly what Horne does here against Wake Forest, another team that prefers drop coverage.

Joiner does the same thing here on an ATO call against Campbell — working the midrange and getting to his step-back jumper for a crucial late-game bucket.

This play, which can include different variations of throwback screens, is a popular choice for teams who want to design a 3-point opportunity for a good movement shooter, knowing that the space will be there against more conservative coverages.

For several seasons under James Borrego, this play was a go-to for the Charlotte Hornets against drop — often with Terry Rozier as the target. With Steven Adams (12) sunk in the paint, LaMelo Ball hits Rozier for a 3.

When the timing is on and the 5 sets a good screen for the 2, this play will generate good looks. Same thing: Gordon Hayward hits Rozier for a triple off the throwback action against Chicago.