North Carolina State University Athletics
Photo by: NCSU WBB
Brooks, Pierre Named Preseason All-ACC; Women’s Basketball Selected to Finished Fifth in the League
10/13/2026 4:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Zoe Brooks and Khamil Pierre of NC State women's basketball were named to the 2026-27 Preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference Team, while the Wolfpack were selected to finish fifth in the league, as voted on by the ACC's 18 head coaches and 58 Blue Ribbon Panel members, and announced by the league on Tuesday.
Brooks enters her senior season after earning All-ACC First Team honors for the second consecutive year. As a junior, she averaged career highs of 16.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game. She recorded 26 games with at least 10 points, nine 20-point performances, three games with at least 10 rebounds and 16 contests with five or more assists. She scored a career-high 37 points in an overtime win over Virginia on Jan. 24, 2026, setting NC State single-game records with 19 made free throws on 20 attempts.
In ACC play, Brooks ranked second in free-throw percentage (86.6%), seventh in assists per game and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8), and eighth in scoring average and minutes per game (32.9). She also ranked 11th in field-goal percentage (.437) and steals per game (1.7). Her 138 made free throws ranked fourth in a single season in program history, while her 86.6% free-throw percentage ranked sixth.
Pierre also enters her senior season after earning All-ACC First Team honors for the first time in her career. She averaged 16.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game as a junior while shooting a career-best 52.5% from the field. Pierre recorded 30 games with at least 10 points, including 27 consecutive games to close the season, along with nine 20-point performances, 23 games with at least 10 rebounds and 22 double-doubles. Her standout season included a 12-point, career-high 21-rebound performance against Green Bay on Nov. 27, 2025, and a 19-point, 20-rebound effort at Oklahoma on Dec. 3, 2025.
In ACC play, Pierre led the conference in rebounds per game and double-doubles. She ranked second in defensive rebounds per game (8.5), fifth in scoring, sixth in field-goal percentage and 14th in minutes per game (31.8). Nationally, she ranked third in double-doubles and seventh in rebounds per game. Her 22 double-doubles and 381 rebounds each ranked as the second-highest single-season totals in program history.
Coming off a 21-win season, NC State was picked to finish fifth in the ACC in 2026-27. The Wolfpack earned their ninth consecutive NCAA Tournament selection in 2025-26, marking the 31st appearance in program history and extending the longest NCAA Tournament streak in program history. After winning their first-round matchup, the Pack advanced to the second round for the eighth time in nine tournaments before its season ended against Michigan.
Preseason Player of the Year
Hannah Hidalgo, Sr., G, Notre Dame
Preseason All-ACC Team (76 voters)
Hannah Hidalgo, Sr., G, Notre Dame 871
Toby Fournier, Jr., F, Duke 767
Kymora Johnson, Sr., G, Virginia 655
Uche Izoje, So., C, Syracuse 466
Khamil Pierre, Sr., F, NC State 456
Zoe Brooks, Sr., F, NC State 455
Tajianna Roberts, Jr., G, Louisville 265
Imari Berry, Jr., G, Louisville 220
Talayah Walker, Jr., G, Georgia Tech 202
Lulu Twidale, Sr., G, California 113
Preseason All-Freshman Team
Kate Harpring, G, North Carolina 493
Jacy Abii, G/F, Notre Dame 376
Autumn Fleary, G, Duke 274
Bella Flemings, G, Duke 205
Missy Odom, F, Florida State 99
Kimora Fields, F, Clemson 96
Predicted Order of Finish (76 voters)
Brooks enters her senior season after earning All-ACC First Team honors for the second consecutive year. As a junior, she averaged career highs of 16.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game. She recorded 26 games with at least 10 points, nine 20-point performances, three games with at least 10 rebounds and 16 contests with five or more assists. She scored a career-high 37 points in an overtime win over Virginia on Jan. 24, 2026, setting NC State single-game records with 19 made free throws on 20 attempts.
In ACC play, Brooks ranked second in free-throw percentage (86.6%), seventh in assists per game and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8), and eighth in scoring average and minutes per game (32.9). She also ranked 11th in field-goal percentage (.437) and steals per game (1.7). Her 138 made free throws ranked fourth in a single season in program history, while her 86.6% free-throw percentage ranked sixth.
Pierre also enters her senior season after earning All-ACC First Team honors for the first time in her career. She averaged 16.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game as a junior while shooting a career-best 52.5% from the field. Pierre recorded 30 games with at least 10 points, including 27 consecutive games to close the season, along with nine 20-point performances, 23 games with at least 10 rebounds and 22 double-doubles. Her standout season included a 12-point, career-high 21-rebound performance against Green Bay on Nov. 27, 2025, and a 19-point, 20-rebound effort at Oklahoma on Dec. 3, 2025.
In ACC play, Pierre led the conference in rebounds per game and double-doubles. She ranked second in defensive rebounds per game (8.5), fifth in scoring, sixth in field-goal percentage and 14th in minutes per game (31.8). Nationally, she ranked third in double-doubles and seventh in rebounds per game. Her 22 double-doubles and 381 rebounds each ranked as the second-highest single-season totals in program history.
Coming off a 21-win season, NC State was picked to finish fifth in the ACC in 2026-27. The Wolfpack earned their ninth consecutive NCAA Tournament selection in 2025-26, marking the 31st appearance in program history and extending the longest NCAA Tournament streak in program history. After winning their first-round matchup, the Pack advanced to the second round for the eighth time in nine tournaments before its season ended against Michigan.
Preseason Player of the Year
Hannah Hidalgo, Sr., G, Notre Dame
Preseason All-ACC Team (76 voters)
Hannah Hidalgo, Sr., G, Notre Dame 871
Toby Fournier, Jr., F, Duke 767
Kymora Johnson, Sr., G, Virginia 655
Uche Izoje, So., C, Syracuse 466
Khamil Pierre, Sr., F, NC State 456
Zoe Brooks, Sr., F, NC State 455
Tajianna Roberts, Jr., G, Louisville 265
Imari Berry, Jr., G, Louisville 220
Talayah Walker, Jr., G, Georgia Tech 202
Lulu Twidale, Sr., G, California 113
Preseason All-Freshman Team
Kate Harpring, G, North Carolina 493
Jacy Abii, G/F, Notre Dame 376
Autumn Fleary, G, Duke 274
Bella Flemings, G, Duke 205
Missy Odom, F, Florida State 99
Kimora Fields, F, Clemson 96
Predicted Order of Finish (76 voters)
- Duke (49), 1649
- Louisville (22), 1580
- North Carolina (1), 1462
- Notre Dame (4), 1450
- NC State, 1337
- Virginia, 1085
- Syracuse, 1009
- Virginia Tech, 1003
- Clemson, 988
- California, 786
- Miami, 689
- Georgia Tech, 684
- Stanford, 674
- Florida State, 603
- SMU, 373
- Wake Forest, 296
- Pitt, 236
- Boston College, 170
Players Mentioned
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