Sallis Named to Lute Olson Early Season Watch List
11/20/2024 3:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BOSTON, Mass. - Wake Forest senior guard Hunter Sallis is adding to his resume of early season nods with selection to the 2024-25 Lute Olson National Player of the Year Early Season Watch List, as announced by the organization.
Sallis, who recently surpassed the 1,000-career-point milestone against Western Carolina (Nov. 19), is one of five ACC players on the Watch List. He has been a dominant force for the Demon Deacons since arriving in Winston-Salem last season, having averaged 18.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists a game as part of an All-ACC junior campaign. Through the first six games of the 2024-25 season, the Omaha, Nebraska native has led the team by averaging 16.8 points per game while also becoming a key distributor from the point guard position, adding 4.3 assists a game.
The Deacs have jumped off to a hot start this season, starting at least 5-1 or better for the third time during the Steve Forbes era after picking up non-conference wins against Coppin State, North Carolina A&T, Michigan, USC Upstate, and Western Carolina. The Demon Deacons have averaged 73.8 points per game while playing incredible defense, forcing at least 10+ turnovers each game of the season thus far, including a season-high 21 against Western Carolina.
The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.
The 2025 award will be announced in San Antonio, TX, site of the men's Division I Basketball Championship.
2024-25 LUTE OLSON AWARD EARLY SEASON WATCH LIST
Robbie Avila Saint Louis
Ace Bailey Rutgers
Oumar Ballo Indiana
Johni Broome Auburn
Walter Clayton Jr. Florida
LJ Cryer Houston
Johnell Davis Arkansas
Tyson Degenhart Boise State
RJ Davis North Carolina
Hunter Dickinson Kansas
Eric Dixon Villanova
Darlinstone Dubar Tennessee
VJ Edgecombe Baylor
Cooper Flagg Duke
Vladislav Goldin Michigan
Tyon Grant-Foster Grand Canyon
Dylan Harper Rutgers
Dajuan Harris Jr. Kansas
Coleman Hawkins Kansas State
Bryce Hopkins Providence
Josh Hubbard Mississippi State
Kam Jones Marquette
Alex Karaban Connecticut
Ryan Kalkbrenner Creighton
Kon Knueppel Duke
Yaxel Lendeborg UAB
Tamin Lipsey Iowa State
Caleb Love Arizona
Zeke Mayo Kansas
Liam McNeeley Connecticut
Collin Murray-Boyles South Carolina
Matthew Murrell Ole Miss
Grant Nelson Alabama
Ryan Nembhard Gonzaga
Norchad Omier Baylor
Clifford Omoruyi Alabama
Great Osobor Washington
Caden Pierce Princeton
Kadary Richmond St. John's
Jeremy Roach Baylor
Jaxson Robinson Kentucky
Hunter Sallis Wake Forest
Payton Sandfort Iowa
Mark Sears Alabama
Braden Smith Purdue
Wade Taylor IV Texas A&M
JT Toppin Texas Tech
Bruce Thornton Ohio State
Seth Trimble North Carolina
Zakai Zeigler Tennessee
Sallis, who recently surpassed the 1,000-career-point milestone against Western Carolina (Nov. 19), is one of five ACC players on the Watch List. He has been a dominant force for the Demon Deacons since arriving in Winston-Salem last season, having averaged 18.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists a game as part of an All-ACC junior campaign. Through the first six games of the 2024-25 season, the Omaha, Nebraska native has led the team by averaging 16.8 points per game while also becoming a key distributor from the point guard position, adding 4.3 assists a game.
The Deacs have jumped off to a hot start this season, starting at least 5-1 or better for the third time during the Steve Forbes era after picking up non-conference wins against Coppin State, North Carolina A&T, Michigan, USC Upstate, and Western Carolina. The Demon Deacons have averaged 73.8 points per game while playing incredible defense, forcing at least 10+ turnovers each game of the season thus far, including a season-high 21 against Western Carolina.
The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com.
The 2025 award will be announced in San Antonio, TX, site of the men's Division I Basketball Championship.
2024-25 LUTE OLSON AWARD EARLY SEASON WATCH LIST
Robbie Avila Saint Louis
Ace Bailey Rutgers
Oumar Ballo Indiana
Johni Broome Auburn
Walter Clayton Jr. Florida
LJ Cryer Houston
Johnell Davis Arkansas
Tyson Degenhart Boise State
RJ Davis North Carolina
Hunter Dickinson Kansas
Eric Dixon Villanova
Darlinstone Dubar Tennessee
VJ Edgecombe Baylor
Cooper Flagg Duke
Vladislav Goldin Michigan
Tyon Grant-Foster Grand Canyon
Dylan Harper Rutgers
Dajuan Harris Jr. Kansas
Coleman Hawkins Kansas State
Bryce Hopkins Providence
Josh Hubbard Mississippi State
Kam Jones Marquette
Alex Karaban Connecticut
Ryan Kalkbrenner Creighton
Kon Knueppel Duke
Yaxel Lendeborg UAB
Tamin Lipsey Iowa State
Caleb Love Arizona
Zeke Mayo Kansas
Liam McNeeley Connecticut
Collin Murray-Boyles South Carolina
Matthew Murrell Ole Miss
Grant Nelson Alabama
Ryan Nembhard Gonzaga
Norchad Omier Baylor
Clifford Omoruyi Alabama
Great Osobor Washington
Caden Pierce Princeton
Kadary Richmond St. John's
Jeremy Roach Baylor
Jaxson Robinson Kentucky
Hunter Sallis Wake Forest
Payton Sandfort Iowa
Mark Sears Alabama
Braden Smith Purdue
Wade Taylor IV Texas A&M
JT Toppin Texas Tech
Bruce Thornton Ohio State
Seth Trimble North Carolina
Zakai Zeigler Tennessee
Players Mentioned
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