2024-25 North Carolina Sports Network
Atlantic Coast Conference Basketball Spotlight:
Wake Forest
By Ben McCormick
North Carolina Sports Network
School: Wake Forest University
Location: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Previous Conference Affiliations: Independent (1905-36), Southern Conference (1936-53)
ACC Member Since: 1953-54
ACC Ranking Among 32 Leagues (KenPom): 5th (2025), 5th (2024), 7th (2023), 5th (2022), 5th (2021), 4th (2020)
NCAA Tournament Bids: 23 (1939, 1953, 1961, 1962, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2017)
Conference Titles: 5 (1953 in SoCon; 1961, 1962, 1995, 1996 in ACC)
Conference 1st-Place Finishes: 5 (1939 in SoCon; 1960, 1962, 1995, 2003 in ACC)
Head Coach: Steve Forbes (59 years old, 5th season at Wake Forest)
As A Player: None (played baseball at Southern Arkansas)
Record At Wake Forest (Through Nov. 28): 77-56 (.579) in 4+ seasons
Previous Head Coaching Experience: Southwestern CC (1991-93), Barton County CC (1995-98), Northwest Florida State (2011-13), East Tennessee State (2015-20)
College AC Experience: Southwestern CC (1989-91), Barton County CC (1993-95), Idaho (1998-2000), Louisiana Tech (2000-03), Illinois State (2003-04), Texas A&M (2004-06), Tennessee (2006-11), Wichita State (2013-15)
Assistant Under: David Farrar, Keith Richard, Porter Moser, Billy Gillispie, Bruce Pearl, Gregg Marshall
2023-24 Record: 21-14, 11-9 ACC (5th in 15-team ACC), NIT Sweet 16
2024-25 Preseason Prediction (Media): 3rd in 18-team ACC
2024-25 Record (Through Nov. 28): 6-2, 0-0 ACC
2024-25 Midseason Ranking (KenPom): #105 nationally (13th in ACC)
Upcoming Schedule: vs. Minnesota (11/29), at #20 Texas A&M (12/3), Boston College (12/7), James Madison (12/17), at Clemson (12/21), at Syracuse (12/31)
Under coach Steve Forbes, Wake Forest 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 story, 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 in 2024-25 is whether Wake can close out a season in style 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.
Through the first eight games of this season, Sallis once again led the Deacs in scoring at 18 points per game. However, the scoring distribution has had some balance. Sallis hasn’t always had to carry a massive burden offensively, though he has still stepped up in big moments. The star guard led Wake in scoring with 18 points in a gritty two-point win over Michigan.
“We built this team in the spring (to be) gritty, grimy, tough together,” Forbes said following the win over the Wolverines. “I felt like we had to get tougher to win these kinds of games, and I think that showed today, that these guys are pretty tough-minded.”
Two other returning starters, combo 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 at point guard (Sallis and Hildreth are sharing those duties), on the wing and in the post.
Sallis’ decision to return came as a whopping eight Demon Deacons 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 brings experience, ability and some much-needed scrappiness to Winston-Salem.
Spillers boasted an impressive 15-point, 16-rebound double-double against North Carolina A&T, and he posted 16 points against Michigan as well. The forward is leading the Deacs in rebounding and averaging almost a double-double (10 ppg, 9 rpg) through the first eight contests.
Louisville transfer Ty-Laur Johnson, the only true point guard on the entire Wake roster, 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 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, especially if the offense can find consistency without a true point guard leading the way.
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). The media projected the Demon Deacons to finish third in the expanded, 18-team ACC this season, even though they haven’t had a top-three league finish since 2009, under coach Dino Gaudio.
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 Wake Forest Demon Deacons
(6-2, 0-0 ACC; through Nov. 28)
STARTERS (stats = final 2023-24 numbers)
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
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 Tre’Von Spillers, Sr., (6-7/205) — App State transfer (All-Sun Belt first team)
29 mpg, 13 ppg, 9 rpg, 60% FG, 69% FT, 15/26 ATO, 44 blocks, 25 steals
C Efton Reid III*, Sr., (7-0/250) — Wake starter (2024), LSU starter (2022)
28 mpg, 10 ppg, 8 rpg, 55% FG, 84% FT, 28% threes, 44/44 ATO, 36 blocks, 18 steals
KEY RESERVES (stats = final 2023-24 numbers)
G Parker Friedrichsen, So., (6-4/180) — former top-100 recruit
18 mpg, 5 ppg, 1 rpg, 40% FG, 69% FT, 37% threes, 21/9 ATO, 2 blocks, 23 steals
G Juke Harris, Fr., (6-7/185) — Top 100 in Class of 2024
Salisbury, N.C.; Salisbury High School
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
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
C Churchill Abass, So., (6-10/250) — DePaul transfer (part-time starter)
16 mpg, 4 ppg, 4 rpg, 58% FG, 46% FT, 6/33 ATO, 27 blocks, 19 steals
Departures from 2023-24: WF Abramo Canka (So./transfer/Stetson), BF Andrew Carr* (Sr./transfer/Kentucky), WF Aaron Clark (Fr./transfer/Pepperdine), WG Jao Ituka (Jr./transfer/Jacksonville State), C Zach Keller (So./transfer/Utah), C Matthew Marsh (Jr./transfer/Oregon State), PG Boopie Miller* (Jr./transfer/SMU), Damari Monsanto (Sr./transfer/UTSA).
*—2023-24 starter (started at least 50% of Wake’s games last season)
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
10-Year Snapshot
Season — Overall, League (Place), Postseason
2023-24: 21-14, 11-9 ACC (5th), NIT Sweet 16 (Steve Forbes)
2022-23: 19-13, 10-10 ACC (8th), no postseason (Steve Forbes)
2021-22: 25-10, 13-7 ACC (5th), NIT Quarterfinals (Steve Forbes)
2020-21: 6-16, 3-15 (14th), no postseason (Steve Forbes)
2019-20: 13-18, 6-14 (13th), no postseason (Danny Manning)
2018-19: 11-20, 4-14 ACC (13th), no postseason (Danny Manning)
2017-18: 11-20, 4-14 ACC (14th), no postseason (Danny Manning)
2016-17: 19-14, 9-9 ACC (10th), NCAA First Four (Danny Manning)
2015-16: 11-20, 2-16 ACC (14th), no postseason (Danny Manning)
2014-15: 13-19, 5-13 ACC (12th), no postseason (Danny Manning)
*—conference champion
NOTE: In the coming weeks and months, please visit the North Carolina Sports Network’s 2024-25 profiles and 10-year snapshots for all 19 Division One men’s basketball programs in North Carolina and all 18 Atlantic Coast Conference programs. The items below will become “live links” as new articles are posted.
Appalachian State Mountaineers, Sun Belt Conference
Boston College Eagles, Atlantic Coast Conference
California Bears, Atlantic Coast Conference
Campbell Camels, Coastal Athletic Association
Charlotte 49ers, American Athletic Conference
Clemson Tigers, Atlantic Coast Conference
Davidson Wildcats, Atlantic-10 Conference
Duke Blue Devils, Atlantic Coast Conference
East Carolina Pirates, American Athletic Conference
Elon Phoenix, Coastal Athletic Association
Florida State Seminoles, Atlantic Coast Conference
Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs, Big South Conference
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Atlantic Coast Conference
High Point Panthers, Big South Conference
Louisville Cardinals, Atlantic Coast Conference
Miami Hurricanes, Atlantic Coast Conference
North Carolina Tar Heels, Atlantic Coast Conference
North Carolina A&T Aggies, Coastal Athletic Association
North Carolina Central Eagles, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
North Carolina State Wolfpack, Atlantic Coast Conference
Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Atlantic Coast Conference
Pittsburgh Panthers, Atlantic Coast Conference
Queens Royals, Atlantic Sun Conference
SMU Mustangs, Atlantic Coast Conference
Stanford Cardinal, Atlantic Coast Conference
Syracuse Orange, Atlantic Coast Conference
UNC Asheville Bulldogs, Big South Conference
UNC Greensboro Spartans, Southern Conference
UNC Wilmington Seahawks, Coastal Athletic Association
Virginia Cavaliers, Atlantic Coast Conference
Virginia Tech Hokies, Atlantic Coast Conference
Western Carolina Catamounts, Southern Conference
