Wake Forest basketball season preview 2024-25: Biggest games, key players to watch, predictions and more

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons seek to bounce back from a disappointing 2023-24 college basketball season as they venture into the new campaign. They will look to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017 this upcoming season.

The Steve Forbes-coached Demon Deacons parade a solid lineup composed of 10 holdovers, five transferees and two freshmen. They are aiming to claim one of the 68 berths in the NCAA Tournament after falling short this past season.

Let's take a look at how things are stacked for Wake Forest in the 2024-25 season.

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Wake Forest men's basketball 2024-25 season preview: Biggest games, key players to watch and more

Wake Forest's biggest games in the 2024-25 season

Wake Forest's 2024-25 regular season schedule is almost complete with nine non-conference and 20 intra-conference games. Among the notable games in the Demon Deacons' non-conference schedule are against Michigan (on November 10), Texas A&M (on December 3) and James Madison (on December 17).

Wake Forest's game against the perennial Big 10 power is the first of two neutral-site series games between the Demon Deacons and the Wolverines.

This year's staging will be played at the Greensboro Coliseum and the second part is slated in Michigan next season. Wake Forest won their only meeting in November 2000, 71-60.

Then, on December 3, Steve Forbes' men will host Texas A&M in the ACC-SEC Challenge. Wake Forest looks to bounce back from the 81-57 loss against the Aggies in December 2023.

Two weeks later, the Demon Deacons will play their last non-conference game against 2024 NCAA Tournament qualifiers James Madison. Wake Forest won their only meeting against JMU, 91-82, in 2006.

Not to forget, Wake Forest will play home-and-away games against Duke, NC State and newly-affiliated ACC school Stanford in its regular season schedule.

The Demon Deacons will play host to Boston College, Florida State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Virginia. They will visit California, Clemson, Louisville, Miami, SMU, Syracuse and Virginia Tech.

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Key Wake Forest players to watch out for in the 2024-25 season

Wake Forest center Efton Reed III (Image Source: IMAGN)

Two of Wake Forest's four double-digit scorers — Hunter Sallis and Cameron Hildreth — have returned for another season. Sallis was the Demon Deacons' leading scorer, averaging 18.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

Hildreth was the third-best scorer last year, tallying 13.8 markers, 4.7 boards, 2.4 dimes and 1.0 swipes a contest.

Another key returnee is Efton Reid, the seven-foot transfer from Gonzaga. Last season, Reid had 9.7 ppg and 7.9 rpg for the Demon Deacons as he played alongside Andrew Carr.

Transfer point guard Ty-Laur Johnson will bring his playmaking skills to Wake Forest after spending one season with Louisville. There, he averaged 8.7 points, 3.6 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per contest.

Juke Harris is one of the two freshmen recruits for Wake Forest along with Mason Hagedorn. The 6-foot-6 Harris, who is ranked No. 50 nationally by 247 Sports, averaged 29.2 points per game in his junior year at Salisbury High School.

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Wake Forest's predictions for the 2024-25 season

Wake Forest will be one of the contending teams in the ACC with a solid core led by Hunter Sallis and Cameron Hildreth.

Steve Forbes will also have explosive freshman shooting guard Juke Harris on its roster, forming a three-headed monster at the backcourt.

Efton Reid III will complement the Sallis-Hildreth-Harris combo as he will haul down the rebounds and give an outlet pass on whoever is open among the three.

The Demon Deacons are expected to win 23 games this season and will make the NCAA Tournament, competing in the second round.