Last night ended a great run at the end of the season for the NC State hoops team but more significantly it marked the end of a brilliant career. Engin Atsur played his final college basketball game last night as the Pack lost a heart breaker to a scrappy West Va. team. For four years, Engin Atsur has been the stability and calming force that has carried NC State basketball. Its my personal opinion that Engin Atsur will go down as one of the most underrated players in NC State history. He wasn’t a flashy personality like Julius Hodge or the gaudy stats of Philip Rivers but a more solid point guard you can not find.

Atsur average 32 minutes per game for his career. Considering that most of that time was playing under Herb “I don’t play freshman” Sendek that is an amazing feat. Throughout his career he was a lock down defender and although he was slowed all of his senior season he didn’t hold back one bit. Fighting off screens, diving for loose balls all while guarding guys who are bigger and faster than he is. He was so successful after his Jr season he was named to the CollegeInsider’s All Defensive team.

Atsur’s offensive skills are also underrated. Never one to back away from the big shot or scared to take it to the rack, Atsur was a career 80% free throw shooter and nearly a 40% 3-pt shooter. Atsur was off to an amazing start to his senior season before he suffered a crucial hamstring injury that kept him out of 12 games, there is no telling what kind of numbers he would have put up this year or where this team would have ended up.

Atsur probably wont get drafted in the NBA because he’s small and white but wherever he plays, a team will have found one of the most solid players out there and a true leader on the floor. I loved watching Engin play for the Wolfpack on the court and I’m proud to have him represent NC State off the court.

I hope Wolfpack Nation appreciates Atsur as much as he deserves. And whomever takes a chance on Atsur will without a doubt be pleasantly surprised. I’ll sure miss ya Engin. Thanks for four great years.

Here’s Engin’s interview from after last nights game.