Star Hunter

Wake Forest's turned two under-the-radar guards into All-ACC players the last two seasons. Can it do the same with Hunter Sallis? Plus, Arizona adds a 5-star and McNeese State's prime outlook.

Author

Sean Paul
April 27, 2023

Worn out after up late watching Jimmy Butler rip the heart out of every Milwaukee Bucks fan? Yeah, me too. So let's break down the Wednesday college hoops news you may have missed.

1. Can Steve Forbes work his magic with Hunter Sallis?

For the third straight season, Steve Forbes snagged another guard who could grow into an All-ACC player. This time, it’s former 5-star recruit Hunter Sallis. Can the backcourt whisperer do the same thing he did with Alondes Williams and Tyree Appleby?

Williams was the ACC POY, while Appleby was an All-ACC selection. Both saw incredible jumps in their production. For Sallis, a bench player in two seasons at Gonzaga, this is a chance to start alongside fellow transfer Boopie Miller from Central Michigan.

And it sure seems like he could thrive.

Coming out of Omaha as a high school prospect, the 6-5 Sallis profiled as a freakishly athletic combo guard with a developing offensive game. The athleticism has translated, but Sallis' offensive game remains unrefined. He made just 25.8 percent (16-of-62) from deep in two seasons at Gonzaga.

That said, if anybody can ring out untapped talent, Forbes can. Whether Sallis (and versatile forward Bobi Klintman) can reach their potential and finally get the Deacs into the NCAA Tournament remains to be seen.

Two other impactful portal moves happened on Wednesday.

Former Kentucky starter Sahvir Wheeler is headed to Washington while rising star Amaree Abram is the first big portal splash for Damon Stoudamire at Georgia Tech.

Wheeler was unfairly scapegoated for Kentucky's struggles the past two seasons. Forget that. He's terrific at using his speed to get into the lane and break down defenses, which leads to good looks for shooters. Of which Washington has a couple: Moses Wood (Portland) and Anthony Holland (Fresno State) should help. Also, adding a floor general with Wheeler's basketball acumen and experience is something the Huskies have lacked for a few seasons.

Abram was courted by many schools but ultimately decided to join be the centerpiece at Georgia Tech. As a freshman, the 6-4 guard averaged eight points, two rebounds and two dimes, while shooting 36.4 percent from deep. He'll be Georgia Tech's go-to scoring threat from Day 1.

Other notable portal moves:

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Go boldly into the streaming universe

Paramount+ is the premier streaming service for all things entertainment. With a vast library of hit shows, movies, and exclusive content, there's always something new to discover.

From beloved classics to the latest and greatest, Paramount+ has something for every viewer. Plus, with new episodes and releases added all the time, you'll never run out of things to watch.

Explore Paramount+ today and start streaming all your favorite entertainment in one place.

2. Arizona adds a baller

Looks like Tommy Lloyd still knows how to recruit. The Wildcats coach snagged a massive prize on Wednesday with the addition of 2024 prospect Carter Bryant.

The Newport, Calif., native chose the Wildcats over Louisville. At 6-8 and 225 pounds, the 5-star prospect looks physically ready to play college basketball right now.

Arizona plays fast, which is one of the things that enticed Bryant. "Coach Lloyd’s system allows me to play for a program that pushes the pace and allows players one through five to make decisions," he told On3.com

Arizona fans are probably still mad about losing Ryan Nembhard to Gonzaga. That's understandable when you have high expectations for a program that's won 61 games in Lloyd's first two seasons. But this is evidence that Lloyd's building a program to last, and not just focusing on the portal. Bryant's the type of player who can keep the Wildcats in the mix for top-2 seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

3. McNeese State (!) is locked and loaded

McNeese State isn’t a college hoops power. The Cowboys have just two NCAA Tournament appearances, and none since 2002. But they're in a good position to win their first Southland title since 2011 and end that NCAA tourney drought.

How does that happen?

Well, two of the league's top coaches, Steve Lutz and Corey Gipson, are now elsewhere. And McNeese State made its own bold coaching hire when it brought on former LSU coach Will Wade in March.

Wade hasn't wasted any time working on the Cowboys' roster. Take the backcourt.

Utah transfer guard Mike Saunders, who flashes brilliant speed and shot creation ability, will partner with TCU transfer Shahada Wells, a combo guard who averaged 16 points at UT Arlington two seasons ago. Both should thrive in the Southland.

The frontcourt is also strong. CJ Felder, who averaged 9 points and five boards for Boston College in 2020-21, will help ultra-athletic forward Christian Shumate, who led the Cowboys with 15 points and nine rebounds this past season. Shumate briefly hit the portal before announcing his return to Lake Charles this week.

Moreover, the Cowboys addressed the wing spot by hauling in 6-5 DJ Richards, who averaged 10 points as a freshman at UTSA, and former top-100 recruit Zach Harvey, who spent time at Cincinnati and UC Santa Barbara.

Saunders, Wells, Felder and Shumate could easily have averaged double-figures in the Sun Belt or similar one-bid leagues. Instead, they all teamed for a potential Southland super team. The only real concern is consistent shooting, but Shumate and Felder could play volleyball on the offensive glass for 40 minutes.

Finally, McNeese State already has a built-in advantage for 2024, as the host school for the Southland tournament. Regardless of Wade's history with the FBI investigation at LSU, he's a good coach. He won at least 20 games at Chattanooga, VCU and LSU and is poised to potentially do the same this season at McNeese State.

Don't dismiss Huggins

Few coaches have had a better time in the transfer portal this spring than West Virginia's Bob Huggins. How has the 69-year-old Hall of Famer managed to work some magic? Jeff Goodman and Rob Dauster discuss.

Links as you comb the NFL Draft mock drafts.

Thanks for reading The Field of 68 Daily! If you have a news tip or feedback, email us at [email protected].