Wake Forest guard Hunter Sallis had a breakout junior year that has put him on the radars of league scouts and draft enthusiasts. After initially being left off of the early entrants list, Sallis officially declared for the draft while maintaining his eligibility.
Hunter Sallis 2024 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
Sallis transferred from Gonzaga and quickly found a home with Wake Forest. His production was limited in his lone season as a Bulldog and first year as a Demon Deacon. However, Sallis took a major leap this season as Wake Forest’s leading scorer.
Starting all 34 contests, Sallis averaged 18 points and 2.5 assists per game on 48% shooting from the field, 40% from three and 78% from the free-throw line. His efforts earned him a spot on the ACC All-League First Team, joining several notable alumni:
“Sallis joins Tyree Appleby (2023) and Alondes Williams (2022) as All-ACC First Team selections in the Steve Forbes era.
This also marks 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).”
Strengths
What jumps off the page about Sallis—quite literally—is his athleticism. The junior is a bouncy guard who can rise up for jams often and is overall very aggressive in the paint. His 36-inch vertical allows him to pull off creative finishes in addition to his highlight dunks, and he’s often the recipient of several backdoor lobs.
Aside from his hops. Sallis has a solid shooting form, with plenty of confidence to score from distance. Sallis’s 40% mark from three came with an average of 2.2 makes per game. His 75 made threes this season was good for 12th in the ACC. Sallis can shoot off the catch and off the dribble, using impressive handles to create space. He has also improved his midrange game, making nearly half of his attempts from there. Overall, he ended the regular season with a true shooting percentage of 59.6—good for 12th in the conference.
The Nebraska native’s ability to score from everywhere allowed him to drop a season-high 29 points as Wake Forest upset No. 8 Duke in February.
Sallis is just as solid defensively, with his 6’10” wingspan helping him collect 1.1 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. His athleticism and agility help a lot in this regard, as he’s able to keep up with opponents, get over screens and block attempts from both the paint and perimeter. He recorded a season-high four steals in Wake Forest’s tournament win over Pitt, and swatted two shots against Virginia Tech and Appalachian State (NIT).
Weaknesses
Though Sallis is a gifted scorer and pesky defender, one area he must improve upon is his playmaking. His 2.5 assists per game is average at best. However, as No Ceilings NBA noted, he has a solid foundation when it comes to making the right reads:
“He has good timing with simple pocket passes against more aggressive coverages. His best skill is that when he goes downhill, he reads low man really well. Sallis will use this sense to determine when it’s best to go for his own finish or make a last-second dump-off dish to his big man. It’s not the most mesmerizing or complex game, but it’s a solid foundation to build on.”
Another concern for Sallis is his nimble 180-pound frame, which is going to get him pushed around on both ends of the floor at the next level. Gaining strength will be vital if he wants to assert himself as an aggressive scorer and defender.
NBA Comparison
Sallis’s game reminds of Lonnie Walker IV with his athleticism, improved shooting, and defensive chops. Both put the ball in the basket at a breakneck pace and in a variety of ways, with Walker having several scoring outbursts in recent years. Another comparison for Sallis is Jalen Williams, the Thunder’s Swiss Army knife who has found a way to score and defend well despite his 195-pound frame.
