When Steve Forbes arrived at Wake Forest back in 2020, the basketball program was basically on life support. The Demon Deacons hadn't just lost their way; they’d lost their identity in a conference where names like Krzyzewski and Williams cast long, intimidating shadows. Forbes didn’t care about the shadows. He brought a blue-collar, "grind-it-out" Iowa mentality to Winston-Salem that eventually turned Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum from a quiet theater into one of the most hostile environments in the ACC.
Fast forward to January 2026. The landscape is different.
Honestly, the Steve Forbes Wake Forest era has been a masterclass in how you rebuild a program using the transfer portal without losing your soul. He didn’t just recruit talent; he recruited "his kind" of guys—players with chips on their shoulders who felt overlooked. You’ve seen it with Alondes Williams, Jake LaRavia, and more recently, guys like Hunter Sallis who blossomed under Forbes' tutelage before heading to the pros.
The Current State of the Deacs (2025-26 Season)
As we sit in the thick of the 2025-26 season, Wake Forest is navigating a middle-of-the-pack ACC standing with an 11-7 overall record (2-3 in conference play). It hasn't been a perfect ride. Losing a heavy hitter like Hunter Sallis to a two-way NBA contract with the 76ers left a void that’s hard to fill with just one player.
The roster this year is a bit of a bridge between the veteran core of the last few seasons and a very young, high-ceiling future. You’ve got Tre’Von Spillers and Mekhi Mason providing that senior leadership, while the backcourt is leaning heavily on Washington State transfer Nate Calmese.
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Calmese is a bucket. He’s that spark plug Forbes loves, but the team is still searching for that consistent third scoring option to keep opposing defenses from sagging into the paint.
Why the Steve Forbes Wake Forest Connection Works
It’s the culture, man.
Forbes has this way of talking to people that feels like you’re sitting at a diner having coffee, but the moment you step on the court, he expects absolute war. It's why Wake Forest has been a top-six team nationally in home wins over the last four seasons. Since the start of the 2021-22 campaign, they are a staggering 61-10 at the Joel.
- Home Dominance: 61 wins since 2021 is no fluke.
- The Portal Strategy: Forbes doesn't just take the highest-rated guy; he takes the guy who fits his "DNA."
- Developing Pro Talent: From Alondes Williams to Jake LaRavia and Sallis, Forbes is proving Wake is a legitimate NBA launchpad again.
People forget how bad it was. Before Forbes, Wake Forest was lucky to win double-digit games in the ACC. He’s already tied the program record for ACC wins (13) twice in his tenure. He’s brought back a level of relevance that has the Winston-Salem community actually excited about February basketball again.
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The 2026 Recruiting Class: A Glimpse into the Future
If you think the current 11-7 record is the ceiling, you haven't looked at the recruiting trail. This is where Steve Forbes Wake Forest is really starting to flex.
The 2026 class is looking like a top-10 haul nationally. Leading the charge are the Placide twins—Gavin and Gallagher Placide—from Dallas. Gavin is a 6'11" monster who can handle the ball like a wing. He’s a consensus top-50 recruit. His brother Gallagher isn't far behind, and they both bring a defensive versatility that Forbes hasn't had in spades during his first few years.
Then there’s Quentin Coleman, a 6'3" guard from St. Louis. He’s the type of gritty, shot-making guard that defines the Forbes era. Landing three top-100 players in one cycle is something Wake hasn't done since 2010. It shows that the "Wake is Great" pitch is finally sticking with elite high schoolers, not just disgruntled transfers.
Dealing with the "NCAA Tournament" Elephant in the Room
Let’s be real for a second. The one knock on Forbes so far is the lack of a deep NCAA Tournament run. They’ve been the "First Team Out" or stuck in the NIT (where they made the Quarterfinals in 2022 and the Second Round in 2024) more times than fans would like.
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The bubble has been unkind to the Deacs.
Forbes addressed this at the 2025 ACC Tipoff, basically saying that they need to be better in November and December so they aren't sweating on Selection Sunday. This season's early losses have made that path difficult again, but the 2026 outlook is where the real payoff lies.
Actionable Insights for Wake Forest Fans
If you're following the Deacs this season, keep an eye on these specific areas as the calendar turns to February:
- Watch the Frontcourt Synergy: With Omaha Biliew and Tre’Von Spillers, the athleticism is there. If they can start finishing through contact in ACC play, the offense opens up.
- Monitor the 2026 Commitments: Recruiting rankings fluctuate, but keeping the Placide twins and Coleman locked in is the top priority for the staff.
- Home Court Pricing: If you're looking for tickets, the midweek games against mid-tier ACC opponents are often where the atmosphere is most critical for a "resume-building" win.
The Steve Forbes Wake Forest story is still being written. It hasn't been a straight line up—no rebuild ever is—but the foundation of toughness and NBA-level development is finally solidified in Winston-Salem.