The count of 2025 Pack9 players in the portal is now into double digits
And now we’re into double digits as three more members of the 2025 NC State Wolfpack baseball team have entered the transfer portal. The latest additions are FR RHP Aden Knowles, rSO C Drew Lanphere, and SO RHP Jaxon Lucas.
Knowles, a 6’3, 198 lbs freshman from Tampa, FL, did not pitch this spring for the Pack. He’s a high-80’s fastball guy with a four-pitch mix. His transfer will be interesting to watch from a downstream impacts perspective since his high school teammate, C Vincent DeCarlo, is a current NC State commit in the incoming freshman class. Knowles younger brother, Eric, is a pitcher in the 2026 high school class who is currently uncommitted but was a follow as a potential late add for State’s 2026 class.
Lanphere, from Wendell, redshirted his first year in Raleigh before playing 32 games (18 starts) in 2024 and 39 games (26 starts) in 2025. Over those two years, he played 27 games at catcher and three (all in 2024) in left field. Lanphere hit .222/.390/.296, 3 2B, 1 HR, 21.2 BB%, 12.5 K%, 0-0 SB this year across 107 PA and had a two-year line of .244/.376/.331, 5 2B, 3 HR, 16.7 BB%, 17.7 K%, 0-0 SB over 198 PA. Behind the dish, he threw out 6-of-24 ( .250 CS%) of base runners this year. The lefty hitter shouldn’t have too difficult of a time finding a new home.
Lucas is from right down the road in Garner and came to State as a two-way player. He was actually viewed a little higher as a position player in the prep ranks but solely focused on pitching with the Pack. He posted a line of 1-0, 1 SV, 5.21 ERA, 19.0 IP, 7.1 BB%, 23.8 K% in 2025 and will leave Raleigh with a two-year pitching line of 2-0, 1 SV, 7.43 ERA, 40.0 IP, 9.5 BB%, 22.1 K%. Lucas features a low-90’s fastball with a slider and changeup. Control was an issue as a freshman, but was much better in 2025, although that still failed to earn him many high leverage innings. The talent is there – as evidenced by him pitching in the Cape Cod League last summer – so he should be able to find a new home rather quickly.