Wake Forest Athletics
Photo by: Seth Seebaugh
Exciting Core Returning for Demon Deacons for 2024-25 Season
5/29/2024 10:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
In addition to Sallis, Wake Forest welcomes back a key group of returners for last season including Efton Reid III, Cameron Hildreth, Parker Friedrichsen and Marqus Marion.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest men's basketball guard Hunter Sallis announced that he will be returning for the upcoming 2024-25 season Wednesday.
Sallis had a breakout season during his first year as a Demon Deacon, being named the Associated Press ACC Newcomer of the Year while also being honored as a First Team All-ACC selection. This marked the first time since 2003, 2004 and 2005 that Wake Forest has had a First Team honoree for three-straight years. Sallis, Appleby and Williams join 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.
Exciting Core Set to Return
In addition to Sallis, Wake Forest welcomes back a key group of returners for last season including Efton Reid III, Cameron Hildreth, Parker Friedrichsen and Marqus Marion. They will look to build on the success last season that included reaching the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals for the 57th time in program history and helping them earn a place in the National Invitation Tournament where Wake Forest advanced to the second round.
Last season, the Demon Deacons defeated five teams that reached the NCAA Tournament including three wins over Elite Eight teams and a win over a Final Four team.
This core provided an exciting environment for Deacon Nation all year long. Wake Forest saw a resurgence in season attendance numbers this season with 164,931 fans packing Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. This marked the highest total attendance since the 2014-15 season when Wake Forest hosted 174,336 fans during the 2014-15 season.
The 17 home wins this season are the second-most in program history, trailing just the 2021-22 season when the Demon Deacons finished with an impressive home of 18-2:
Single-Season Home Wins in Program History:
Building on Excellence
For the first time since 1995-97, Wake Forest has finished with 10 or more ACC wins in three consecutive seasons. Additionally, the 34 ACC wins during that three-year period marked the most since the 2003-05 run and when the Demon Deacons had 35 ACC wins.
Additionally with the win against Notre Dame in the ACC Tournament, Wake Forest reached the 20-win mark for the second time in the last three years. The 65 wins over the last three seasons mark the most wins in a three-year stretch since the 2002-03 to 2004-05 run.
Wake Forest holds an impressive 48-7 record at home since the start of the 2021-22 season including a 17-2 mark last season, the best since having the most home wins in program history during the 2021-22 season when Wake Forest finished with a mark of 18-2.
Additionally, it is the first time since the 2008-09 season that the Deacs have had one or fewer losses at LJVM Coliseum. The Demon Deacons overall wins since the start of the 2021-22 season rank second in the country and leads the ACC during that time frame:
Sallis had a breakout season during his first year as a Demon Deacon, being named the Associated Press ACC Newcomer of the Year while also being honored as a First Team All-ACC selection. This marked the first time since 2003, 2004 and 2005 that Wake Forest has had a First Team honoree for three-straight years. Sallis, Appleby and Williams join 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.
Exciting Core Set to Return
In addition to Sallis, Wake Forest welcomes back a key group of returners for last season including Efton Reid III, Cameron Hildreth, Parker Friedrichsen and Marqus Marion. They will look to build on the success last season that included reaching the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals for the 57th time in program history and helping them earn a place in the National Invitation Tournament where Wake Forest advanced to the second round.
Last season, the Demon Deacons defeated five teams that reached the NCAA Tournament including three wins over Elite Eight teams and a win over a Final Four team.
This core provided an exciting environment for Deacon Nation all year long. Wake Forest saw a resurgence in season attendance numbers this season with 164,931 fans packing Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. This marked the highest total attendance since the 2014-15 season when Wake Forest hosted 174,336 fans during the 2014-15 season.
The 17 home wins this season are the second-most in program history, trailing just the 2021-22 season when the Demon Deacons finished with an impressive home of 18-2:
Single-Season Home Wins in Program History:
| Rank | Wins | Season |
| 1. | 18 | 2021-22 |
| 2. | 17 | 2023-24 |
| T3. | 16 | 2004-05 |
| T3. | 16 | 2002-03 |
| 5. | 15 | 2007-08 |
| T6. | 14 | 2013-14 |
| T6. | 14 | 2008-09 |
| T6. | 14 | 1995-96 |
| T6. | 14 | 1993-94 |
For the first time since 1995-97, Wake Forest has finished with 10 or more ACC wins in three consecutive seasons. Additionally, the 34 ACC wins during that three-year period marked the most since the 2003-05 run and when the Demon Deacons had 35 ACC wins.
Additionally with the win against Notre Dame in the ACC Tournament, Wake Forest reached the 20-win mark for the second time in the last three years. The 65 wins over the last three seasons mark the most wins in a three-year stretch since the 2002-03 to 2004-05 run.
Wake Forest holds an impressive 48-7 record at home since the start of the 2021-22 season including a 17-2 mark last season, the best since having the most home wins in program history during the 2021-22 season when Wake Forest finished with a mark of 18-2.
Additionally, it is the first time since the 2008-09 season that the Deacs have had one or fewer losses at LJVM Coliseum. The Demon Deacons overall wins since the start of the 2021-22 season rank second in the country and leads the ACC during that time frame:
| Rank | Team | Home Wins | Winning Percentage |
| 1. | Houston | 49 | .942 |
| 2. | Wake Forest | 48 | .887 |
| T3. | Arizona | 47 | .940 |
| T3. | Texas | 47 | .855 |
| T5. | Saint Mary's | 46 | .885 |
| T5. | Kentucky | 46 | .852 |
| T5. | Kansas | 46 | .939 |
| T5. | Duke | 46 | .885 |
| T5. | Purdue | 46 | .939 |
| T10. | Vermont | 45 | .957 |
| T10. | Auburn | 45 | .938 |
| T10. | UConn | 45 | .918 |
| T10. | Grand Canyon | 45 | .882 |
| T10. | Iowa State | 45 | .849 |
| T10. | Providence | 45 | .849 |
| T10. | UAB | 45 | .833 |
Players Mentioned
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