Wake Forest Basketball: 2023-24 season preview for the Demon Deacons

Wake Forest’s Key Reserve Players

Guard Hunter Sallis

Hunter Sallis comes in as a former 5-star prospect from Gonzaga where he transferred to Wake Forest this past offseason. Sallis spent the last 2 seasons at Gonzaga but he hasn’t gotten much playing time and even last season he didn’t get more than 15 mpg. Sallis was a former top ten prospect and if anybody can bring the talent out of players it’s Steve Forbes. Sallis averaged around 4.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 46.6% from the floor last season as he looks to take a big jump at Wake this season.

Center Efton Reid (still needs a waiver to play)

Steve Forbes was able to steal another from Gonzaga this season by also getting Efton Reid in the transfer portal. Reid is a classic bully ball center that will rebound the ball and almost always be in the paint. Reid did’t get more that 5 minutes per game this past season with the Bulldogs and as a former 4-star prospect Forbes is looking to get some production from this talented center as that is the shallowest position for this Wake Forest team.

Guard Jao Ituka

Jao Ituka was looking to finally break into division 1 basketball this season with Wake but another injury has probably set him back to start playing in January or February of next year. Ituka was also injured almost all of last season too where he only played 6 games. When Ituka transferred out of Marist he was averaging around 15 points a game with a 41% three point rating. If or when he comes back he should be a solid rotational player for Wake and when he does come back he will add some good offensive depth to this team.

Forward Abramo Canka

As a freshman Abramo Canka did not average more than 5 minutes a game last year at UCLA and just like Efton Reid, Steve Forbes looks to break out this player in his Wake system. Canka was a 3-star prospect coming out of high school but got buried in the UCLA rotation last season. Forbes looks to give him a bigger role on the bench and he should add good depth to the small forward position as a slashing/shooting 6’6 forward.

Guard Parker Friedrichson

Parker Friedrichson was a 4-star prospect and a top 100 player (per 247sports) and he should look to get at least a little bit of playing time. With Jao Ituka out he should get some play at the guard spot, and being a top 100 player should help that.

Forward Zach Keller

Zach Keller started 6 games and appeared in 17 games last season for Wake and he looks to have a better sophomore campaign in 2023-24. Keller will likely back up the power forward position and he has the size for it at 6’10 228 lbs. Keller is a more defensive and rebounding player, which will be good for Wake since they are a bit short of depth for centers this season