Wake Forest Athletics
Deacon Sports Xtra: Canka Finding Footing in Winston-Salem
12/11/2023 10:32:00 AM | Men's Basketball
As Abramo Canka's play for the Italian National Team began to open the eyes of NCAA coaches, it was new Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes who reached out with the first scholarship offer.
Although Canka originally stayed in Italy for another year and then started collegiate basketball at UCLA, he reconnected with Forbes quickly after entering the NCAA Transfer Portal.
"I really wanted to come here, but with the visit situation being weird during Covid, I decided to stay in Europe another year," Canka said. "Once coach Forbes reached out when I entered the transfer portal, I figured it was just meant to be."
Although soccer was Canka's top sport early on, he began playing basketball when he was seven years old and changed to primarily basketball before his teens.
"I started getting noticed by American colleges by the time I was a sophomore or junior in high school," he said.
Playing for Italy, Canka averaged 10.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.9 steals a game in the 2018 FIBA U16 European Championships, and then averaged 9.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in the U20 European Championships in 2022.
"We were told by our contacts in Europe that he was one of the best prospects in Europe," Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes said about Canka. "He had great length. We did a Zoom with him when he was in Italy, then our paths crossed again when he went to the portal."
Canka committed to Wake Forest in mid-May and arrived on campus just a month later.
"Everything is good," he said. "I remember I had my first American Fourth of July while I was in Winston-Salem. I started summer classes and practiced with the team. Then I went home for a little bit, then got back for preseason workouts. Everything has been great so far.
"It hasn't really been that much of a change. I'm just trying to listen to what the coaches are saying and adjust to the coaching staff. That's the biggest adjustment. At the end of the day, it's just basketball. We get to go out there and play."
Late in the summer, Canka and his teammates journeyed to Washington, D.C. to not only take part in a scrimmage against another Division 1 team, but also to experience some of the incredible landmarks and history in the nation's capital.
"The trip to D.C. was nice," he said. "We got to go to the White House and the Supreme Court. It's something that not everyone gets a chance to do. In Italy we have a Parliament and a Prime Minister, so it's different here, for sure. It was great to see the differences and how the government works.
"During the summer, we all bonded well. We lived together and were around each other all the time on and off the court. The chemistry on the team is fantastic. I think we have a good team and have a great chance to make March Madness."
Forbes believes the future is bright for Canka at Wake Forest.
"I think he's going to be great, but he's just going to take some time," Forbes said. "He didn't play last year, but he was on a great well-coached team. You can tell by practice he's been coached by Mick Cronin. He needs experience and he needs to play. We need him. We're going to try to play him some, mostly on the wing, but we could play him some small ball four if we have to.
"It's going to take some time. He's just got to get his feet under him, get in some legitimate playing time. We need him. He's got a great attitude and is a great teammate with a really good work ethic."
Although Canka originally stayed in Italy for another year and then started collegiate basketball at UCLA, he reconnected with Forbes quickly after entering the NCAA Transfer Portal.
"I really wanted to come here, but with the visit situation being weird during Covid, I decided to stay in Europe another year," Canka said. "Once coach Forbes reached out when I entered the transfer portal, I figured it was just meant to be."
Although soccer was Canka's top sport early on, he began playing basketball when he was seven years old and changed to primarily basketball before his teens.
"I started getting noticed by American colleges by the time I was a sophomore or junior in high school," he said.
Playing for Italy, Canka averaged 10.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.9 steals a game in the 2018 FIBA U16 European Championships, and then averaged 9.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in the U20 European Championships in 2022.
"We were told by our contacts in Europe that he was one of the best prospects in Europe," Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes said about Canka. "He had great length. We did a Zoom with him when he was in Italy, then our paths crossed again when he went to the portal."
Canka committed to Wake Forest in mid-May and arrived on campus just a month later.
"Everything is good," he said. "I remember I had my first American Fourth of July while I was in Winston-Salem. I started summer classes and practiced with the team. Then I went home for a little bit, then got back for preseason workouts. Everything has been great so far.
"It hasn't really been that much of a change. I'm just trying to listen to what the coaches are saying and adjust to the coaching staff. That's the biggest adjustment. At the end of the day, it's just basketball. We get to go out there and play."
Late in the summer, Canka and his teammates journeyed to Washington, D.C. to not only take part in a scrimmage against another Division 1 team, but also to experience some of the incredible landmarks and history in the nation's capital.
"The trip to D.C. was nice," he said. "We got to go to the White House and the Supreme Court. It's something that not everyone gets a chance to do. In Italy we have a Parliament and a Prime Minister, so it's different here, for sure. It was great to see the differences and how the government works.
"During the summer, we all bonded well. We lived together and were around each other all the time on and off the court. The chemistry on the team is fantastic. I think we have a good team and have a great chance to make March Madness."
Forbes believes the future is bright for Canka at Wake Forest.
"I think he's going to be great, but he's just going to take some time," Forbes said. "He didn't play last year, but he was on a great well-coached team. You can tell by practice he's been coached by Mick Cronin. He needs experience and he needs to play. We need him. We're going to try to play him some, mostly on the wing, but we could play him some small ball four if we have to.
"It's going to take some time. He's just got to get his feet under him, get in some legitimate playing time. We need him. He's got a great attitude and is a great teammate with a really good work ethic."
Players Mentioned
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