Every setback comes with an opportunity.

For Khamil Pierre, the setback was her departure from Vanderbilt. In late June, Commodores head coach Shea Ralph announced that Pierre would be leaving the program.

The opportunity was one to join NC State, shoring up Wes Moore’s frontcourt and giving the Wolfpack a real opportunity to push for its second Final Four trip in three seasons.

NC State has in recent years been a program that relies on its guards. Last season, Saniya Rivers, Aziaha James and Zoe Brooks accounted for 57% of the squad’s scoring and led them to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Rivers and James were both first-round WNBA Draft selections, and Brooks returns for her junior season in Raleigh.

In the Sweet 16, LSU out-rebounded the Wolfpack by 16 and took seven more field goals. The inability to be strong on the glass led to an 80-73 loss and the end of a repeat Final Four attempt. 

“She gives us more of an inside presence at the forward position,” Moore said. “We had trouble in the NCAA tournament when we lost to LSU. Just didn't feel like we matched up real well at the forward spots, physically on the boards, things like that. So I think Khamil brings some of that.”

Pierre scored 16 points in NC State's exhibition win over Maryland. She did foul out but is giving herself time to learn the new system.

So far, the 6-foot-2 forward has enjoyed being part of the Wolfpack.

"Being able to be around people who it's more of a complete team," Pierre said after the exhibition. It feels good and it feels like better overall basketball."

Pierre has the perfect opportunity to start her NC State career against a familiar foe. With Vanderbilt, she beat Tennessee in both the regular season and the SEC Tournament, playing a pivotal role in both meetings.

In the regular-season contest at Memorial Gymnasium, Pierre played a game-leading 35 minutes, scoring 21 points and collecting eight rebounds. She made 12 of her 14 foul shots, and each one was critical in the one-point win over the Lady Vols.

Pierre showed up again in the SEC Tournament with a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double to beat Tennessee, giving Vanderbilt two wins over its in-state rival for the first time in program history.

Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell has shown her Lady Vols plenty of film on their failure to match up with Pierre last season and all that Tennessee needs to clean up.

“We fouled her at the rim,” Caldwell said. “We couldn't stop her at the elbow. We couldn't stop her on the three-point line. We couldn't stop her in transition.”

New additions Janiah Barker and Jersey Wolfenbarger will help returning forward Zee Spearman in the effort to stop Pierre in the top-10 matchup.

After Tuesday, NC State heads to Charlotte for a meeting with No. 18 USC. The Wolfpack also have meetings with No. 17 TCU and No. 6 Oklahoma in the non-conference slate before competing in a strong ACC.

NC State is a team without any seniors. Pierre is one of five juniors on the team and one of two new junior players alongside Qadence Samuels from Connecticut. There are still plenty of talented returners, including Brooks and sophomore guard Zamareya Jones. That group can help bring continuity alongside new additions.

“Six of the last seven years, these guys have finished top 10 in the country and only a couple other schools can say that,” Moore said. “I think these returning players have to make sure our culture and the way we do things, the process doesn't slip any, and then obviously as coaches it's up to us as well.”

Last season, the Wolfpack had scoring but not enough talent throughout the lineup to match up with the top teams in the country. Pierre’s addition gives NC State that chance this season.