Mark Gottfried takes to the skies for visits to Dennis Smith Jr. and Bam Adebayo

Wednesday marked the end of a recruiting quiet period in college basketball, which meant that coaches everywhere were hitting the road to make sure they were seen and heard by their top priorities. For NC State's staff, that meant visits to point guard Dennis Smith Jr. and big man Edrice Adebayo, who are both in-state prospects.

Mark Gottfried didn't just drive to see these players--he procured a helicopter from an NC State booster so he could travel in style, and also show Smith and Adebayo how important they are to him. Naturally, this drew a lot of attention, both locally and nationally, which is entirely the point. The Fayetteville Observer has some pictures and video from Gottfried's visit to Smith, who said "it means a lot" for the NC State coaches to visit him before anybody else. (These things do matter.)

Here is a quick recap of the chopper trip, in tweet form:

Recruiting today for the Wolfpack http://pic.twitter.com/jvi0b6Dd0n

— Orlando Early (@coachoearly) September 9, 2015

Great view as I head out recruiting #chopper #gopack http://pic.twitter.com/aRVqLSGuM4

— Mark Gottfried (@Mark_Gottfried) September 9, 2015

Mark Gottfried, Orlando Early fly in to see Dennis Smith Jr. https://t.co/5tImJgTX6b

— Bret Strelow (@bretstrelow) September 9, 2015

Dennis Smith with State coaches http://pic.twitter.com/BpXtrgDjIO

— Bret Strelow (@bretstrelow) September 9, 2015

.@PackMensBball HC Mark Gottfried talking w/ @HPCAcougars Bam Adebayo this afternoon. @WFMY @wolfmans2000 http://pic.twitter.com/sEpMdHWWlf

— Brian Hall (@bhallwfmy) September 9, 2015

Home safely! Great day today...No time to rest back at it tomorrow! #wpn http://pic.twitter.com/fUEJn9dQAB

— Mark Gottfried (@Mark_Gottfried) September 9, 2015

slow night http://pic.twitter.com/TU64ljg1PA

— extramediumalex (@extramediumalex) September 10, 2015

By the way, that's Rob Moxley sitting with Adebayo and Gottfried. Moxley was hospitalized with an unspecified medical emergency in May, so it's nice to see him back out on the trail.

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