Photo by: Seth Seebaugh
Sallis Named to NABC and Naismith Player of the Year Preseason Watch Lists
10/30/2024 1:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest men's basketball player Hunter Sallis has been named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Player of the Year Preseason Watch List, as announced by the NABC, and also to the Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Men's College Player of the Year Watch List Presented by AXIA Time.
Most recently, Sallis was named to the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award Preseason Top 20 Watch List.
A Preseason All-ACC First Team selection, Sallis finished the 2023-24 season earning All-ACC First Team honors after a breakout year in the league, being named the Associated Press ACC Newcomer of the Year. That marked the first time since 2003, 2004 and 2005 that Wake Forest had a First Team honoree for three-straight years. Sallis, Tyree Appleby and Alondes Williams joined the likes of Josh Howard ('03), Justin Gray ('04) and Chris Paul ('05).
The Omaha, Nebraska native led the team in scoring with 18.0 points per game while shooting 48.7 percent from the field, 40.5 percent from behind the arc and 78.3 percent from the line, scoring double digits in points in all but one of his 34 games in a Wake Forest uniform. Sallis was the second-leading scorer in the ACC during league play, sporting an average of 18.5 points per conference contest.
He had 15 games of 20 or more points including a career-best 33 points in a home win over ACC Tournament Champions and Final Four participant NC State, shooting 12-of-17 from the field and 4-of-6 from three.
Coming up clutch against some of the nation's best was a theme throughout the year for Sallis, posting a game-high 29 points against No. 8 Duke on an exceptional 84.6 field goal percentage (11-of-13 FG), adding six rebounds and five three-pointers made. Earlier in the year, Sallis finished with 24 points, four rebounds and four assists in a win over Florida in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Against another eventual NCAA Tournament team, Sallis impressed with a standout, two-way performance of 21 points (8-of-13 FGs, 5-8 3FGs) and nine rebounds as the Deacs claimed victory over Virginia.
Last season, the Deacs defeated five teams that reached the NCAA Tournament including three wins over Elite Eight teams and a win over a Final Four team.
Most recently, Sallis was named to the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award Preseason Top 20 Watch List.
A Preseason All-ACC First Team selection, Sallis finished the 2023-24 season earning All-ACC First Team honors after a breakout year in the league, being named the Associated Press ACC Newcomer of the Year. That marked the first time since 2003, 2004 and 2005 that Wake Forest had a First Team honoree for three-straight years. Sallis, Tyree Appleby and Alondes Williams joined the likes of Josh Howard ('03), Justin Gray ('04) and Chris Paul ('05).
The Omaha, Nebraska native led the team in scoring with 18.0 points per game while shooting 48.7 percent from the field, 40.5 percent from behind the arc and 78.3 percent from the line, scoring double digits in points in all but one of his 34 games in a Wake Forest uniform. Sallis was the second-leading scorer in the ACC during league play, sporting an average of 18.5 points per conference contest.
He had 15 games of 20 or more points including a career-best 33 points in a home win over ACC Tournament Champions and Final Four participant NC State, shooting 12-of-17 from the field and 4-of-6 from three.
Coming up clutch against some of the nation's best was a theme throughout the year for Sallis, posting a game-high 29 points against No. 8 Duke on an exceptional 84.6 field goal percentage (11-of-13 FG), adding six rebounds and five three-pointers made. Earlier in the year, Sallis finished with 24 points, four rebounds and four assists in a win over Florida in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Against another eventual NCAA Tournament team, Sallis impressed with a standout, two-way performance of 21 points (8-of-13 FGs, 5-8 3FGs) and nine rebounds as the Deacs claimed victory over Virginia.
Last season, the Deacs defeated five teams that reached the NCAA Tournament including three wins over Elite Eight teams and a win over a Final Four team.
Players Mentioned
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