Wake Forest men’s basketball and head coach Steve Forbes picked up a major addition from the transfer portal on Wednesday. Gonzaga transfer guard Hunter Sallis announced his commitment to the Demon Deacons. The Omaha, Nebraska native chose Wake Forest over multiple programs including the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Sallis, a former five-star recruit committed to the Bulldogs over offers from Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, UCLA, Auburn, Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina, and others. He leaves Gonzaga after two seasons. In his two years, he played in 69 games, averaging 4.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assist a game.
In Forbes’s third year with the program, the Demon Deacons went 19-14 overall including 10-10 in conference play. It was a slight step back for the Demon Deacons after going 25-10 in 2021-2022, though the program has come a long way from their 6-16 record in his first season in Winston-Salem.
Sallis will look to form a strong backcourt duo with rising junior guard Cameron Hildreth who averaged 12.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists this past season. The Demon Deacons will, however, be losing senior guard Tyree Appleby who was the leading scorer this past season. Appleby in 33 games, averaged 18.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 6.4 assists a game.
Sallis is the second commitment the Demon Deacons have picked up from the transfer portal this offseason joining point guard Kevin Miller who joined the program after leaving Central Michigan. They’ve also seen a trio of players leave the program via the portal in power forward Davion Bradford, and guards Lucas Taylor and Robert McCray.
Former Millard North star and Gonzaga Bulldog, Hunter Sallis, picks Wake Forest.
The 6-foot-5 guard was in Lincoln this past weekend for his official visit. pic.twitter.com/E166ROEzBW
— Steve Marik (@Steve_Marik) April 26, 2023
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