Zymicah Wilkins is certainly a familiar name for basketball fans across North Carolina, especially those who have followed his journey through the extensive coverage from Phenom Hoops.
The 6’9 forward established himself as one of the premier prospects in the country during his high school career, especially his time at Christ School. His combination of size, skill, touch, and versatility ultimately led him to commit to NC State in September 2024.
When Wilkins announced his commitment, we broke down the factors in his game that made him such an intriguing addition for the Wolfpack:
“He’s a highly skilled, intelligent post prospect with an extremely polished skillset and the ability to cause a variety of different problems for opponents. Wilkins scores from the block, midrange area, beyond the arc, and off the bounce. He possesses a soft touch, elite footwork, and a smooth jumper. His overall skillset makes him a legitimate matchup problem for opponents. Wilkins passes and handles the ball at a high level for his size/position and has no issue creating opportunities for himself or others. He can initiate the offense or pick his spots with relative ease. Wilkins is a phenomenal two-way rebounder with the necessary skill to make excellent outlet passes or push the break himself. He contains his assignment well and knows how to properly position himself defensively.”
Now in Raleigh, Wilkins has continued to put in the work and prepare himself for an opportunity to contribute. He has remained committed to NC State through multiple changes within the program, showing his loyalty and belief in what he can accomplish with the Wolfpack.
One of the most noticeable developments has been his physical transformation. Wilkins has reshaped his body and continued expanding his game to become better prepared when his time is called upon. Now listed at 6’9 and 260 pounds, he appears stronger, more explosive, and increasingly capable of being able to contribute this upcoming season and showing more of his talent as a skilled big man, much like he did in high school.
Wilkins was already a legitimate matchup problem because of his tremendous footwork, soft touch, size, and ability to move fluidly for a true big man. His ability to score around the basket, step away from the paint, knock down perimeter shots, and create off the bounce gives him a unique offensive profile. With the progress he has made physically, it will be intriguing to see how they translate when his opportunity comes.
To get an outsider’s perspective on Wilkins’ development and potential role this season, Phenom Hoops spoke with Noah Fleischman of The Wolfpacker.
“Mikey Wilkins has done everything NC State has asked him to do since he arrived on campus. He’s transformed his body, losing about 30 pounds, while becoming more explosive off the bounce. Wilkins projects to play as a power forward in Justin Gainey’s system with his frame and ability to hit shots from beyond the arc. His role is intriguing since NC State has three veteran power forwards ahead of him, headlined by Ven-Allen Lubin’s return. Wilkins is a true Wolfpack player after committing to Kevin Keatts before playing under Will Wade and now Gainey. He’s committed to being at NC State and has proved it every step of the way. Now, he’s ready to look to make an impact off the bench this season.” — Noah Fleischman
Although the Wolfpack brings veteran depth to the frontcourt, Wilkins possesses a distinctive skill set that could help him earn opportunities off the bench. His improved conditioning, perimeter shooting, mobility, and offensive versatility allow him to provide a different look at the power forward position. His role may take time to develop, but Wilkins has continued to embrace the process and prepare for his moment. If he remains patient and builds upon the strides he has already made, he could emerge as an intriguing long-term piece for NC State and a player Wolfpack fans will want to watch closely this season.