I don't know when I'll get the time to get a story on this, so I'm going to throw this up here for a hodgepodge of thoughts after we just wrapped up a Zoom with Steve Forbes.
- The European trip was a success, let's first get that established. Maybe the only two negatives Forbes mentioned were 1) they were only able to play two games because members of Wake's traveling party tested positive for COVID, cancelling the third game (was scheduled to be against the Dutch national team) and 2) Forbes fell off of his bike on a bike tour in Paris -- he was quick to note that he popped up and acted like he wasn't hurt, but was feeling some pain.
- The historical aspect of the places Wake Forest went on the trip sounds incredible. Normandy Beach, the Churchill war rooms, the Van Gogh museum, the Anne Frank House ... it had this history minor quite jealous, if I'm being transparent.
It was interesting to hear Forbes talk about how much of an educational experience it was. He said they showed the team the first 20 minutes of "Saving Private Ryan" before taking them to the D-Day sites, and that they're going watch the first two episodes of "Band of Brothers" whenever they get the team together again (they dispersed and most of them went home after the trip; they'll return when classes start next week).
- Andrew Carr has been the Deacons' top player this summer, with Daivien Williamson in a close second. Ty Appleby was third, Cameron Hildreth was fourth and Jao Ituka was fifth. Forbes said "I think Jao is one of the hardest-working players I've ever coached."
- Carr is 6-10 1/2, 225 pounds. The comparisons to Jake LaRavia are inevitable because of background, skillset and role, and no player is the same ... but it does seem like Carr is going to slide into a big role for Wake. Forbes called him a "stat-stuffer" and while I don't have the time to find proof, I'm almost positive he used the same term for Jake at some point last offseason.
- Rebounding and ball security are his two main concerns coming out of the summer -- I know rebounding was one of them last year, and that never seemed to be too much of a negative during the season. Ball security is obviously a different story. They'll have to get that sorted out, it sounds like, but remember: Wake Forest under Forbes is never going to be a UVA-type that turns the ball over ~ 6 times/game. He wants them to play fast -- it's the live-ball turnovers that they can't take too many of.
- Wake's closed-door scrimmage will be against Ohio State -- the Buckeyes were 20-12 last season, a 7-seed in the NCAAT, and lost in the second round to Villanova -- and will play an exhibition game against Winston-Salem State. I'm curious of two things: Where the scrimmage will be held and the date of the exhibition (we'll find those out in due time).
- Zach Keller's name came up a few times and at one point Forbes said "he's going to play a lot." That struck me -- I know they wouldn't have recruited him if he wasn't good, and I know recruiting rankings aren't much -- because I hadn't been thinking of him as a key contributor going into next season.
Forbes said Keller was something 4-6 or 5-7 on 3-pointers in their two games overseas, and that he sees him being able to play the 4 or 5 positions.
- This ends on a really somber note: Damari Monsanto's sister was killed in a car accident in Miami on Sunday morning. He's home with his family now.
- The European trip was a success, let's first get that established. Maybe the only two negatives Forbes mentioned were 1) they were only able to play two games because members of Wake's traveling party tested positive for COVID, cancelling the third game (was scheduled to be against the Dutch national team) and 2) Forbes fell off of his bike on a bike tour in Paris -- he was quick to note that he popped up and acted like he wasn't hurt, but was feeling some pain.
- The historical aspect of the places Wake Forest went on the trip sounds incredible. Normandy Beach, the Churchill war rooms, the Van Gogh museum, the Anne Frank House ... it had this history minor quite jealous, if I'm being transparent.
It was interesting to hear Forbes talk about how much of an educational experience it was. He said they showed the team the first 20 minutes of "Saving Private Ryan" before taking them to the D-Day sites, and that they're going watch the first two episodes of "Band of Brothers" whenever they get the team together again (they dispersed and most of them went home after the trip; they'll return when classes start next week).
- Andrew Carr has been the Deacons' top player this summer, with Daivien Williamson in a close second. Ty Appleby was third, Cameron Hildreth was fourth and Jao Ituka was fifth. Forbes said "I think Jao is one of the hardest-working players I've ever coached."
- Carr is 6-10 1/2, 225 pounds. The comparisons to Jake LaRavia are inevitable because of background, skillset and role, and no player is the same ... but it does seem like Carr is going to slide into a big role for Wake. Forbes called him a "stat-stuffer" and while I don't have the time to find proof, I'm almost positive he used the same term for Jake at some point last offseason.
- Rebounding and ball security are his two main concerns coming out of the summer -- I know rebounding was one of them last year, and that never seemed to be too much of a negative during the season. Ball security is obviously a different story. They'll have to get that sorted out, it sounds like, but remember: Wake Forest under Forbes is never going to be a UVA-type that turns the ball over ~ 6 times/game. He wants them to play fast -- it's the live-ball turnovers that they can't take too many of.
- Wake's closed-door scrimmage will be against Ohio State -- the Buckeyes were 20-12 last season, a 7-seed in the NCAAT, and lost in the second round to Villanova -- and will play an exhibition game against Winston-Salem State. I'm curious of two things: Where the scrimmage will be held and the date of the exhibition (we'll find those out in due time).
- Zach Keller's name came up a few times and at one point Forbes said "he's going to play a lot." That struck me -- I know they wouldn't have recruited him if he wasn't good, and I know recruiting rankings aren't much -- because I hadn't been thinking of him as a key contributor going into next season.
Forbes said Keller was something 4-6 or 5-7 on 3-pointers in their two games overseas, and that he sees him being able to play the 4 or 5 positions.
- This ends on a really somber note: Damari Monsanto's sister was killed in a car accident in Miami on Sunday morning. He's home with his family now.
