2024-25 ACC Basketball Summer Snapshot:
Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Head Coach: Steve Forbes (59 years old, entering fifth season at Wake Forest)

2023-24 Record: 21-14, 11-9 (fifth in ACC)

2024 Postseason: NIT; eliminated in second round by Georgia

Key 2024-25 Players (*=returning starter): senior G Hunter Sallis*, senior G Cameron Hildreth*, senior C Efton Reid III*, senior F Tre’Von Spillers, sophomore PG Ty-Laur Johnson, sophomore G Parker Friedrichsen, freshman G Juke Harris, sophomore F Omaha Biliew, sophomore G Davin Cosby, sophomore C Chuchill Abass

Wake Forest under Steve Forbes has been stuck on the cusp.

First, there was that talented team in 2021-22, led by ACC Player of the Year Alondes Williams, that started the season 20-5 before losing three of its next four games. That dropped the Demon Deacons onto the NCAA Tournament bubble — a spot the Deacs have grown far too familiar with — and that Wake squad ultimately played its way out of consideration after being upset in the second round of the ACC Tournament by #12 seed Boston College.

Then, there was that scrappy Wake team in 2022-23, led by point guard Tyree Appleby, another incoming transfer turned first-team All-ACC selection. After starting 17-9, those Demon Deacons dropped four of their last five games of the regular season and lost all hopes of making it to the Big Dance.

In this case, the third time was not a charm, either. Last season felt like a broken record for Wake. A high-scoring transfer guard, Hunter Sallis this time, blossomed into a first-team All-ACC selection, leading a team seemingly capable of making the NCAA Tournament but falling short with a late-season nosedive once again.

On Feb. 24, Wake collected a signature win over then-#8 Duke, in what appeared to be the final puzzle piece it needed to finally earn a March Madness invitation under Forbes. However, the Deacs then dropped three straight games, to underdogs Notre Dame, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech.

“I’m disappointed that we didn’t get a chance to play in the (NCAA Tournament),” Forbes said after Wake’s NIT loss to Georgia last season. “I felt like, this team and two years ago, we had a chance to be in the tournament and win. I’ve had a lot of coaches tell me that, but it doesn’t matter, we got to do it. Life on the bubble is no fun, and we got to get off of the bubble.”

The question heading into 2024-25 is whether Wake can close out a season strong and make an undeniable case for an NCAA Tournament bid.

Yes, it’s possible Wake will experience a four-peat of the same misfortune, but there may be some key differences with this Wake team that give it a chance to get off the bubble.

Most notably, Sallis opted to stay in school, despite being projected by some as a possible first-round NBA draft pick. A former McDonald’s All-American, Sallis was an offensive force last season, leading the Deacons in scoring at 18 points per game, and he has a great chance to repeat as a first-team All-ACC performer.

Two other returning starters, wing guard Cameron Hildreth (a two-year starter) and center Efton Reid III, also are key elements in Wake’s solid returning core. The Sallis-Hildreth-Reid trio combined for more than 40 points per game last season, and the three seniors provide veteran leadership in the backcourt, on the wing and in the post.

Sophomore guard Parker Friedrichsen is one more promising piece for Wake. His ability to shoot the ball could come in handy for Forbes’ group.

Sallis’ decision to return came after seven Demon Deacons had already found new homes in the transfer portal, including two starters from last season. Stretch forward Andrew Carr landed at Kentucky, and point guard Kevin “Boopie” Miller ended up at incoming ACC member SMU.

Miller and Carr both played big roles for Wake last season, and replacing them won’t be easy, but Forbes continued to utilize the portal to find players who fit well in his program.

This offseason, Wake’s portal pickups were highlighted by former Appalachian State star forward Tre’Von Spillers. The 6-foot-7 transfer scores in the interior and rebounds at a high level. He will bring experience, ability and some much-needed scrappiness to Winston-Salem.

Louisville point guard Ty-Laur Johnson was Forbes’ key backcourt addition. Johnson showed promise as a freshman on a dysfunctional Cardinals team last season, and although he is not likely a one-for-one replacement for Miller, he is a young player with a lot of potential.

The transfer class was rounded out by Iowa State forward Omaha Biliew, Alabama guard Davin Cosby Jr. and DePaul big man Churchill Abass. Wake also added two freshmen: guard Juke Harris, a promising top-100 recruit, and three-star forward Mason Hagedorn, a very late addition to the roster.

There is a good blend of NBA-caliber talent (Sallis), continuity and freshness to this roster that could translate to a new level of success for Forbes. Another reason for Wake fans to be hopeful is that this may be a relatively weak year at the top of the ACC, at least beyond the anticipated top two (Duke and UNC).

Other ACC teams may have loftier or more modest goals, but Wake’s top priority in 2024-25 is abundantly clear: getting past the “cusp” and earning a clear-cut bid to the NCAA Tournament.

2024-25 Returning Scholarship Players
(Statistics From 2023-24 Unless Otherwise Specified)

G Hunter Sallis*, Sr. (6-5/185) — first-team All-ACC, ACC’s #2 returning scorer
35 mpg, 18 ppg, 4 rpg, 49% FG, 78% FT, 41% threes, 86/65 ATO, 19 blocks, 37 steals

G Cameron Hildreth*, Sr. (6-4/195) — two-year starter
34 mpg, 14 ppg, 5 rpg, 45% FG, 80% FT, 35% threes, 84/72 ATO, 6 blocks, 35 steals

C Efton Reid III*, Sr. (7-0/250) — 2024 Wake starter; 2022 LSU starter
28 mpg, 10 ppg, 8 rpg, 55% FG, 84% FT, 28% threes, 44/44 ATO, 36 blocks, 18 steals

G Parker Friedrichsen, So. (6-4/180) — 10+ points in five games last season
18 mpg, 5 ppg, 1 rpg, 40% FG, 69% FT, 37% threes, 21/9 ATO, 2 blocks, 23 steals

F Marqus Marion, So. (6-9/215) — played in 21 of 35 games last season
11 mpg, 1 ppg, 2 rpg, 50% FG, 58% FT, 40% threes, 3/5 ATO, 5  blocks, 6 steals

*—returning starter (started at least 50% of current team’s games last season)

2024 Offseason Additions

F Tre’Von Spillers, Sr. (6-7/205) — Appalachian State transfer; All-Sun Belt
29 mpg, 13 ppg, 9 rpg, 60% FG, 69% FT, 15/26 ATO, 44 blocks, 25 steals

G Ty-Laur Johnson, So. (6-0/160) — Louisville transfer (part-time starter)
23 mpg, 9 ppg, 2 rpg, 37% FG, 82% FT, 19% threes, 109/70 ATO, 8 blocks, 41 steals

G Juke Harris, Fr. (6-7/185) — Top 100 in Class of 2024
Salisbury, N.C., Salisbury High School

F Omaha Biliew, So. (6-8/225) — Iowa State transfer (reserve)
7 mpg, 2 ppg, 1 rpg, 52% FG, 61% FT, 6/6 ATO, 1 block, 6 steals

G Davin Cosby Jr., So. (6-5/205) — Alabama transfer (reserve)
8 mpg, 4 ppg, 1 rpg, 37% FG, 71% FT, 34% threes, 10/8 ATO, 1 block, 6 steals

F Churchill Abass, So. (6-9/250) — DePaul transfer (part-time starter)
16 mpg, 4 ppg, 4 rpg, 58% FG, 46% FT, 6/33 ATO, 27 blocks, 19 steals

F Mason Hagedorn, Fr. (6-10/221) — Top 300 in Class of 2024
Charlotte, N.C.; Huntington (W.Va.) Prep

2024 Offseason Departures

G Kevin Miller*, r-So. (6-0/175) — transferred to SMU
32 mpg, 16 ppg, 3 rpg, 46% FG, 85% FT, 37% threes, 124/88 ATO, 1 block, 50 steals

F Andrew Carr*, Sr. (6-11/230) — transferred to Kentucky
33 mpg, 14 ppg, 7 rpg, 53% FG, 78% FT, 37% threes, 51/43 ATO, 52 blocks, 16 steals

F Damari Monsanto, Sr. (6-6/225) — transferred to UTSA (2022-23 starter)
13 mpg, 5 ppg, 2 rpg, 34% FG, 100% FT, 35% threes, 7/4 ATO, 3 blocks, 4 steals

C Matthew Marsh, Jr. (7-1/240) — transferred to Oregon State (part-time starter)
10 mpg, 2 ppg, 2 rpg, 68% FG, 60% FT, 50% threes, 2/7 ATO, 8 blocks, 5 steals

F Zach Keller, So. (6-10/228) — transferred to Utah
11 mpg, 2 ppg, 2 rpg, 35% FG, 36% FT, 29% threes, 4/11 ATO, 10 blocks, 9 steals

G Abramo Canka, So. (6-6/200) — transferred to Stetson
15 games played in 2023-24; 0.5 ppg

G Aaron Clark, Fr. (6-6/195) — transferred to Pepperdine
seven games played in 2023-24 without a point