RALEIGH -- Following Saturday's game against Maryland Eastern Shore, head coach Kevin Keatts confirmed that freshman forward Ian Steere will be leaving NC State after just one game. Pack Pride has since learned that Steere plans to transfer from the program and will enter the transfer market.

"Ian and I had a discussion yesterday about what his future may be here at NC State," Keatts said. "Without going into too many details because I don’t want to give out too much on our private conversation, I told him to sit back and take a couple days and decide if this is the best fit for him or if there’s another place that he feels like he could go."

Pack Pride confirmed the news on Friday ahead of Saturday's game. Steere departed from the team on Thursday and went home to Fayetteville, N.C., after playing in Tuesday's season opener. Pack Pride has reached out to Steere personally to get an explanation, but calls have not been returned.

In the Wolfpack's first game this season against Mount St. Mary's earlier this week, Steere finished with four points, four rebounds and an assist in five minutes of action. He also participated in the lone public exhibition against Chowan, playing 12 minutes and finishing with seven points, four rebounds and one block, but was limited due to three fouls over the limited time on the court.

"I don’t know where his head’s at," Keatts said on Saturday. "I plan on having a conversation with him on Monday. I wanted him to take a couple days and make sure that he was still excited about being at NC State."

Following the conversation on Monday, Steere plans to transfer to another program.

The 6-foot-9, 261-pound Steere committed to the Wolfpack last October and was part of NC State's four-man 2018 recruiting class. Saddiq Bey, who was previously committed, is already enrolled at Villanova after leaving the program prior to the start of the 2018-19 season.

Steere, a four-star prospect and No. 140 overall according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, chose the Wolfpack over double-digit scholarship offers, including Arkansas, Clemson, Connecticut, Florida State, Kansas, Louisville, Maryland and Tennessee among others.

He played his senior season at Fayetteville (N.C.) Northwood Temple Academy, where he helped lead the Eagles to a 28-5 record and a runner-up finish in the NCISAA 3A State Championship. Steere played alongside current NC State forward Manny Bates, who is redshirting the 2018-19 season due to injury.

Northwood Temple was Steere's fourth high school program he played for before joining the Wolfpack. He spent his freshman year at Overhills, sophomore campaign at Carlisle, and junior season with Wesleyan Christian Academy. He was also previously committed to Creighton before signing with the Wolfpack and decommitted from the Blue Jays last summer.

NC State will now have 10 scholarship players eligible for the 2018-19 season. Only two of those players -- Wyatt Walker and D.J. Funderburk -- will play inside for the Pack. Luckily, State has size at the guard position, particularly with Torin Dorn, who has played a hybrid guard/forward throughout his three years with the Pack.

Next season, however, NC State will add at least two more power forwards to the lineup with Sacha Killeya-Jones and Bates both expected to be eligible. Walker will also have another season of eligibility and Funderburk will be in his redshirt junior season for NC State.

Though the situation looks grim despite playing a 4-1 lineup with only two bigs, the future looks bright at the position.