2022 Record: 14-14 (10-10)

Head Coach: Steve Forbes (Career Record NCAA and JUCO 310-116) (Wake Record 50-39)

Projected Rotation:

PG: Kevin Miller (Central Michigan 18.5 Pts, 3.8 Reb, 5.3 Ast)

SG: Hunter Sallis (Gonzaga 4.5 Pts, 2.2 Reb, 1.4 Ast)

SF: Damari Monsanto (13.3 Pts, 3.6 Reb, 0.6 Ast)

PF: Andrew Carr (10.7 Pts, 6.0 Reb, 1.2 Ast)

C: Matthew Marsh (6.1 Pts, 4.2 Reb, 0.3 Ast)

6: SG Cameron Hildreth (12.4 Pts, 5.3 Reb, 2.8 Ast)

7: C Efton Reid (Gonzaga 2.1 Pts, 1.0 Reb, 0.1 Ast) (Double Transfer, Needs Waiver)

8: SF Abramo Canka (UCLA 1.5 Pts, 0.7 Reb, 0.2 Ast)

9: SG Parker Friedrichsen

10: PG Jao Ituka (3.0 Pts, 1.2 Reb, 0.8 Ast)

11: PF Zach Keller (2.3 Pts, 1.5 Reb, 0.2 Ast)

12: PF Marqus Marion

13: SG Aaron Clark

Wake Forest had to replace Tyree Appleby who graduated this offseason and they did so by landing Central Michigan transfer point guard Kevin Miller. He is a very quick and athletic guard who has the ability to score at will. He also does a good job finding his teammates as he averaged over 5APG this past season. He does have a problem with turnovers though, he tends to be a bit wild at times which can cause him to be ultra turnover prone. Wake Forest has Jao Ituka returning this past season who could also get some runs at the point guard spot. Ituka was injured and missed most of the season last year, but in his freshman season at Marist he was a very good player who was able to score at will and dominate the game as a freshman.

Wake Forest also has a duo of big men returning with PF Andrew Carr and C Matthew Marsh coming back to Winston-Salem for another season. Marsh is a 7-1 center from England who shot an incredible 88% from the floor on 83/94 shooting during the season. He is one of the best finishers around the rim in the country and will be a key part of the Demon Deacons season this year. Andrew Carr surprised many after he transferred to Wake Forest from Delaware and his scoring numbers actually improved. Carr plays with confidence and has the ability to stretch the floor as well. He also led the team in rebounding this past season. Another big man returning for the Demon Deacons next season is rising sophomore forward Zach Keller. He saw minimal action this past season seeing an average of 10 minutes per game. He’s due to have a larger role than that this season and could see massive improvements. Wake Forest also got a commitment from Gonzaga transfer Efton Reid who is a double transfer and would need to sit out this upcoming season. He will be a very productive player in the ACC once he’s eligible next year.

The final two returners for Wake Forest this upcoming season are guards Damari Monsanto and Cameron Hildreth. Both players were highly efficient players this past season for the Demon Deacons. Hildreth is another England native who saw massive improvements from his freshman to sophomore season going from 3PPG to 12PPG. He’s really good at the mid range game as well as attacking the rim. Damari Monsanto is one of the players that followed Coach Forbes from ETSU to Wake Forest. He is one of the better three point shooters on the team shooting a 41% mark from beyond the arc this past season. He is also an excellent free throw shooter and can be relied on during crunch time of close games. Wake Forest also received a transfer commitment from Gonzaga transfer Hunter Sallis, a teammate of Efton Reid’s this past season. Hunter Sallis is an extremely athletic guard who could easily be a double figure scorer in his first year with the program. He’s a former 5 star player in the class of 2021 with limitless potential. Sallis has the chance to be an all-league player in his first season at Wake and could also be the key to their success this season.

The final transfer the Demon Deacons landed was UCLA transfer wing Abramo Canka. The Italian wing played very sparingly in his lone season with the Bruins. He has good nice and length for the position. He does have some potential to make an immediate impact with his unique skillset including the ability to shoot the three ball. Wake Forest also landed 3 players in the 2023 class. The most notable freshman addition is SG Parker Friedrichsen who was formerly committed to Oklahoma State and Notre Dame. He is an elite outside shooter which could lead him to see immediate action and be a consistent member of the rotation. The other players Wake Forest landed was 3 star forward Marqus Marion from Denmark and 3 star SG Aaron Clark from Pennsylvania.

Steve Forbes has done a solid job rebuilding the Wake Forest program in his 3 seasons so far in Winston-Salem. Wake Forest endured many losing seasons in a row before Forbes got there and he led them to back to back winning seasons. Wake still hasn’t been able to get over the hump and get back to the NCAA Tournament though. It’s going to be difficult to get there once again with this club, but Forbes should have the Demon Deacons around the middle of the ACC standings once again. A trip to the NIT is possible this season and being around the 20 win mark should also be a goal.