Wake Forest Athletics
Week 3 Open the Gate Honoree: Al-Farouq Aminu
9/15/2026 10:28:00 AM | Football
Wake Forest men’s basketball great Al-Farouq Aminu is set to be the Demon Deacons' Open the Gate honoree for Friday's home game against Miami.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Former Wake Forest men's basketball standout Al-Farouq Aminu will serve as the Open the Gate honoree during the Demon Deacons' Week 3 matchup against No. 5 Miami on Friday, Sept. 18 at Allegacy Financial Stadium.
One of the most decorated players in program history, Aminu spent two seasons on the hardwood for the Demon Deacons before embarking on an 11-year NBA career and representing Nigeria on the international stage.
As a freshman in 2008-09, Aminu was a unanimous selection to the ACC All-Freshman Team after averaging 12.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, numbers that led all ACC freshmen in rebounding and ranked second among conference newcomers in scoring. He recorded 10 double-doubles–tied for the fourth-most among all ACC players that season–and was named ACC Rookie of the Week five times. Multiple national outlets tabbed him a Freshman All-American.
As a sophomore, Aminu averaged 15.9 points and a conference-leading 10.8 rebounds per game in 2009-10, becoming the only player in the ACC — and one of just five players nationally among the power conferences — to average a double-double on the season. He posted 18 double-doubles, tops in the ACC and ninth-most nationally, and became the first Demon Deacon since Tim Duncan in 1997 to lead the ACC in rebounding.
Aminu's sophomore campaign earned him Associated Press honorable mention All-America honors, along with third-team All-America recognition from CBSSports.com and FoxSports.com, making him the 14th player in Wake Forest history to earn All-America status. He was also a first-team All-District selection by both the NABC and USBWA and a finalist for the Naismith Trophy and Wooden Award.
The Georgia native was drafted eighth overall in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers and went on to play 11 seasons in the NBA, appearing in 711 career games for six franchises and totaling 5,350 points and 4,280 rebounds.
Aminu also built a decorated international résumé, representing Nigeria's national team at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. In 2015, he helped Nigeria capture the FIBA Africa Championship (AfroBasket) title with a win over Angola, earning tournament All-Star Five honors along the way.
Open the Gate Information & 2026 Honorees
The Open the Gate tradition, established in 2008, celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to the Wake Forest and Winston-Salem communities. Honorees are recognized during football games by leading the team onto the field alongside the Demon Deacon mascot.
Week 1 - Dr. Peter Rodriguez
Week 3 - Al-Farouq Aminu
One of the most decorated players in program history, Aminu spent two seasons on the hardwood for the Demon Deacons before embarking on an 11-year NBA career and representing Nigeria on the international stage.
As a freshman in 2008-09, Aminu was a unanimous selection to the ACC All-Freshman Team after averaging 12.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, numbers that led all ACC freshmen in rebounding and ranked second among conference newcomers in scoring. He recorded 10 double-doubles–tied for the fourth-most among all ACC players that season–and was named ACC Rookie of the Week five times. Multiple national outlets tabbed him a Freshman All-American.
As a sophomore, Aminu averaged 15.9 points and a conference-leading 10.8 rebounds per game in 2009-10, becoming the only player in the ACC — and one of just five players nationally among the power conferences — to average a double-double on the season. He posted 18 double-doubles, tops in the ACC and ninth-most nationally, and became the first Demon Deacon since Tim Duncan in 1997 to lead the ACC in rebounding.
Aminu's sophomore campaign earned him Associated Press honorable mention All-America honors, along with third-team All-America recognition from CBSSports.com and FoxSports.com, making him the 14th player in Wake Forest history to earn All-America status. He was also a first-team All-District selection by both the NABC and USBWA and a finalist for the Naismith Trophy and Wooden Award.
The Georgia native was drafted eighth overall in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers and went on to play 11 seasons in the NBA, appearing in 711 career games for six franchises and totaling 5,350 points and 4,280 rebounds.
Aminu also built a decorated international résumé, representing Nigeria's national team at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. In 2015, he helped Nigeria capture the FIBA Africa Championship (AfroBasket) title with a win over Angola, earning tournament All-Star Five honors along the way.
Open the Gate Information & 2026 Honorees
The Open the Gate tradition, established in 2008, celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to the Wake Forest and Winston-Salem communities. Honorees are recognized during football games by leading the team onto the field alongside the Demon Deacon mascot.
Week 1 - Dr. Peter Rodriguez
Week 3 - Al-Farouq Aminu
Friday, September 18
Friday, September 18
Wednesday, September 16
Tuesday, September 15