Ralston Turner makes exit official

Sophomore swing man, a 2011 member of the All-SEC Freshman team, will depart the LSU program after two seasons for N.C. State. With his departure, the new Tigers coaching staff has three scholarship openings.

Fresh off an official visit, sophomore guard Ralston Turner informed the NC State coaches today that he will be transferring from LSU.

"It came down to my relationship with coach Gottfried," said Turner. "I felt very comfortable on the visit and with the direction of the program. I'm expecting big things at NC State, and I wanted to be a part of it."

Turner said he has notified the coaches at NC State and LSU of his decision.

"Obviously the coaches at NC State were excited about it," he said. "I've told coach Jones at LSU already too. It was tough to tell him, but he was good about it... just said he wishes he had a chance to coach me."

A two-year starter at LSU, Turner led the team in scoring as a true freshman, as he averaged 12.3 points per game. His scoring output dipped to 9.1 as a sophomore, but the Tigers were a better team and he was much more efficient from behind the 3-point arc and at the free throw line.

"We had a better team," said Turner. "Honestly some games this year the ball didn't fall for me. I would say that's what happened."

At 6-foot-6 and 205 pounds, Turner is capable of playing shooting guard and small forward.

"Shooting is the best thing I do," he said. "I need to work on having more of an all-around game."

Turner will enroll at NC State this fall and sit out the 2012-2013 season due to NCAA transfer rules but will have two years of eligibility remaining.

"I'm excited about it," said Turner. "The coaches were big to me. They were just being themselves... I got a great vibe from them.

"My parents came down with me and they had positive feedback as well. They told me it was obviously my choice but they liked it and thought highly of it. We're all excited about it."

Pack Pride will have more on his decision in the near future so stay tuned.