RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) For now, all North Carolina State freshman Omer Yurtseven can do is work on his game and be patient.
With all the attention on possible one-and-done freshman Dennis Smith Jr., the Turkish 7-footer gives the Wolfpack a second five-star prospect on an overhauled and potential-filled roster. But he's still waiting for the NCAA to clear him as eligible to play as an amateur.
Practice starts Friday and the opener is six weeks away.
''I can't control it so I'm trying not to think about it,'' Yurtseven said Thursday during the team's preseason media day. ''Just think about education and basketball, to control as I said what you can. Because that's not in your hands, so if you think about it more, all It's going to get you is frustration. And I don't want that.''
Yurtseven, a native of Istanbul, had a professional contract offer with a European club team, but opted to play college basketball and committed to the Wolfpack in May. The 18-year-old also has international experience, is considered a potential one-and-done talent himself and even had a 91-point game in a Turkish Under-18 game this spring.
''He played overseas and he grew up playing the game the right way,'' junior forward Abdul-Malik Abu said, ''so he's very skilled and has a super high IQ.''
Smith's debut at the point guard after enrolling in January to rehab a serious knee injury has caused the biggest buzz for the Wolfpack. And sixth-year coach Mark Gottfried isn't shying away from fueling the hype about Smith, calling him Thursday ''the best guard in the country'' even while saying he will have a learning curve as he transitions to the college level.
But Yurtseven's commitment was a big deal, too, and a key reason why the Wolfpack ranks No. 6 nationally in Scout.com's recruiting rankings.
Gottfried said Thursday that ''nothing has happened in a negative way'' during the NCAA's review process of Yurtseven's amateur status, saying there is plenty of discussion but no timetable for a decision.
''It's not frustrating because quite honestly for us, there's really not a whole lot we can do about that,'' Gottfried said. ''He's participated in every workout. He's integrating himself with our team in a really positive way.
''We're approaching it with the hope he won't have to miss any games and move right in and play. If he does (have to sit out games), we'll deal with that, too.''
Yurtseven said he understands the evaluation process takes time.
''You've just got to hope for the best,'' he said. ''I think that they should let me get cleared because I don't think I have done something wrong. But you know, they're trying to do their part, so I can't do nothing but respect them. So that's what I'm trying to do.''
While N.C. State has plenty of backcourt options, the Wolfpack sure could use Yurtseven up front. Abu (12.9 points, 8.8 rebounds) and 6-9 senior BeeJay Anya are back after offseason flirtations with the NBA draft, but Gottfried is leaning toward redshirting 6-9 senior Lennard Freeman to let him fully heal after an injury-plagued season following surgery to repair a fracture in his lower right leg in summer 2015.
The opportunity is there, assuming Yurtseven suits up as planned.
''It's a new experience and it's fun,'' he said. ''I'm in a place that I've never been in, a situation that I don't know if I'll live (through) ever again, a different situation than this. I'm just trying to have fun, enjoy and hope for the best.''
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