Wake Forest aims for breakthrough to NCAA Tournament in Steve Forbes’ 5th season

Wake Forest (21-14, 11-9 ACC)

The Demon Deacons have been on the verge of making the NCAA Tournament during the first first four seasons under Steve Forbes, who has NIT appearances in 2022 and 2024 so far. But the NCAAs are the clear expectation for a team that features three returning starters and picked to finish third in the ACC race behind No. 7 Duke and No. 9 North Carolina.

Players to watch

Hunter Sallis (graduate, G, 6-5, 185, 18.0 ppg). Sallis is a returning and preseason all-conference performer capable of scoring off the dribble or from distance (40.5% from 3-point range).

Cameron Hildreth (senior, G, 6-4, 195, 13.8 ppg). Hildreth is a capable scorer who shot 45.4% from the field and 80.4% from the foul line. He also was third on the team with 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists.

Efton Reid III (senior post, 7-0, 250, 9.6 ppg). Reid started 25 games after missing time early while awaiting delayed NCAA clearance as a two-time transfer who began his college career at LSU before moving to Gonzaga. Reid gave the Demon Deacons an inside presence (7.9 rebounds) and rim protection (1.3 blocks) with the ability to step outside (nine made 3s).

Departures and arrivals

Second-leading scorer Kevin Miller (15.6) is gone, along with rangy 6-11 forward Andrew Carr, a double-figure scorer who transferred to Kentucky. Wake Forest also lost promising wing Damari Monsanto, who transferred to UTSA.

The Demon Deacons added top-100 recruit Juke Harris, a 6-7 freshman wing, and transfers including former five-star prospect Omaha Biliew (6-8, 225) from Iowa State and Tre’Von Spillers (6-7, 215), who was Appalachian State’s leading scorer and rebounder (13.7 points, 10.2 rebounds) last year.

Wake Forest also added 6-5 sophomore Davin Cosby from Alabama, 6-0 sophomore Ty-Laur Johnson from Louisville and 6-10 sophomore Churchill Abass from DePaul.

Top games

The Demon Deacons open the season Nov. 4 at home against Coppin State and early games against No. 21 Florida (Nov. 28) and No. 13 Texas A&M (Dec. 3). Wake Forest opens league play against Boston College on Dec. 7, and has two matchups with the Blue Devils (Jan. 25, March 3) as well as a visit from the Tar Heels (Jan. 21).

Facts and figures

Forbes is 71-44 with the Demon Deacons, including 21 wins last year and 25 wins in 2022. … Wake Forest hasn’t made the NCAAs since 2017 and hasn’t won a tournament game there since the 2010 first round. … This is the Demon Deacons’ highest preseason projected finish in the ACC since being picked third in 2009.

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