Gavin Placide First Addition to Wake Forest’s Nationally-Ranked 2026 Recruiting Class
11/17/2025 3:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Placide is the 43rd ranked player nationally in the 2026 class by On3 and also ranks top-80 by both 247 Sports and ESPN.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest men's basketball and head coach Steve Forbes have announced the addition of Gavin Placide to the 2026 recruiting class. He is the first member of a recruiting class that ranks top-25 nationally by 247 Sports, On3 and ESPN.
The 6-11 four-star recruit is one of the top-10 recruits in the state of Texas in the Class of 2026.
"Gavin has tremendous size, skill, and versatility," Forbes said. "He can score facing up or with his back to the basket, and he can facilitate offense due to his ability to handle and pass the ball. His size, physical presence, and ability to move his feet, makes him a strong defender and a force on the offensive and defensive glass. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Gavin since the day we started recruiting him. I can't wait to get him on campus."
"We welcome his mom Rachel, his brother Gallagher (who signed with WF) and his sister Gabi, who plays volleyball at Ole Miss, to our Wake Forest Family."
One of the top recruits in the country, Placide currently ranks as the No. 43 recruit by On3, No. 49 by 247 Sports, and No. 80 by ESPN.
Gavin and his brother Gallagher attend Faith Family Academy in Dallas, where they currently have a top-30 team ranking in the country. As a junior, they attended Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kan., as the school won 17 games and Gavin finished fifth in rebounding in the Nike Scholastic League.
Placide also played for AAO Flight in the Puma Pro 16 AAU Circuit.
"Gavin is a multi-dimensional defender, with the size and strength to bang in the post and the footspeed to switch on to guards," said CBS Sports Director of Basketball Scouting Adam Finkelstein. "He puts a lot of pressure on the rim both as a driver and roller on offense. He is a physical downhill driver who seeks out and plays through contact to finish at the rim."
Placide is the first of three top-100 high school additions for Wake Forest in this year's recruiting class, a first for the program since 2010.
The 6-11 four-star recruit is one of the top-10 recruits in the state of Texas in the Class of 2026.
"Gavin has tremendous size, skill, and versatility," Forbes said. "He can score facing up or with his back to the basket, and he can facilitate offense due to his ability to handle and pass the ball. His size, physical presence, and ability to move his feet, makes him a strong defender and a force on the offensive and defensive glass. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Gavin since the day we started recruiting him. I can't wait to get him on campus."
"We welcome his mom Rachel, his brother Gallagher (who signed with WF) and his sister Gabi, who plays volleyball at Ole Miss, to our Wake Forest Family."
One of the top recruits in the country, Placide currently ranks as the No. 43 recruit by On3, No. 49 by 247 Sports, and No. 80 by ESPN.
Gavin and his brother Gallagher attend Faith Family Academy in Dallas, where they currently have a top-30 team ranking in the country. As a junior, they attended Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kan., as the school won 17 games and Gavin finished fifth in rebounding in the Nike Scholastic League.
Placide also played for AAO Flight in the Puma Pro 16 AAU Circuit.
"Gavin is a multi-dimensional defender, with the size and strength to bang in the post and the footspeed to switch on to guards," said CBS Sports Director of Basketball Scouting Adam Finkelstein. "He puts a lot of pressure on the rim both as a driver and roller on offense. He is a physical downhill driver who seeks out and plays through contact to finish at the rim."
Placide is the first of three top-100 high school additions for Wake Forest in this year's recruiting class, a first for the program since 2010.
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