WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest men’s basketball program has signed Southern Conference Freshman of the Year and East Tennessee State transfer, Damari Monsanto.
“Damari is a multi-talented player who can score the ball at a very high level while being a very willing passer and team player. Having the opportunity to redshirt his freshman year paved the way for all the success he had on the court this year under Coach Jason Shay. He will be entering Wake Forest as a 3rd year freshman possessing a ton of knowledge and experience. My family and I have a very close and personal relationship with Damari and his family, and we can’t wait to see him grow even more as a player and as a person at Wake Forest.”
After redshirting under Forbes his true freshman season two years ago, Monsanto played in all 25 games with 20 starts for the Buccaneers during the 2020-21 season, averaging 11.8 points and 7.3 rebounds in 27.4 minutes. The rookie also made 52 three-pointers, while shooting just under 80 percent at the free throw line. In addition to being named the SoCon Freshman of the Year, he also earned Third-Team All-Conference honors.
The 6-6, 215-pound redshirt freshman was named a finalist for the Kyle Macy award. The award is given to the top freshman in Division I basketball. He also earned All-District honors from Basketball Times, being named to the All-Freshman Second Team along with ACC counterparts Scottie Barnes (Florida State) and Day’Ron Sharpe (North Carolina).
Monsanto registered four double-doubles this season, along with having a stretch where scored at least 20 points in five-straight games, becoming the first ETSU player to accomplish the feat since 2016. During that five-game run from Jan. 23 -- Feb. 6, Monsanto averaged 22.4 points and 9.2 rebounds, while shooting 56 percent from the field (38-68) and 58 percent from three-point range (23-40). He was named the SoCon Player of the Week on Feb. 2.
Monsanto was among the freshman national leaders in three-pointers made (6th), rebounds per game (T9th) and total points (T21st) for the 2020-21 season among all active Division I freshmen. He led the Bucs with a career-high 23-points against the Crimson Tide of Alabama on Dec. 22, while also grabbing a career-best nine rebounds. Monsanto was 8-of-13 from the field and accounted for six of the Bucs’ nine made threes.
As a high school player for Western High School in Pembroke Pines, Florida, Monsanto averaged 28.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.9 assists during his senior season. Following his stellar senior year, Monsanto earned Sun Sentinel’s Class 9A-7A Broward County Player of the Year honors and led the Wildcats to the state regional semifinals, which was their deepest playoff run in school history. The First Team All-State 9A selection poured in 25 points in the first-round playoff win over Deerfield Beach.
Monsanto has four years of eligibility remaining.
“Damari is a multi-talented player who can score the ball at a very high level while being a very willing passer and team player. Having the opportunity to redshirt his freshman year paved the way for all the success he had on the court this year under Coach Jason Shay. He will be entering Wake Forest as a 3rd year freshman possessing a ton of knowledge and experience. My family and I have a very close and personal relationship with Damari and his family, and we can’t wait to see him grow even more as a player and as a person at Wake Forest.”
After redshirting under Forbes his true freshman season two years ago, Monsanto played in all 25 games with 20 starts for the Buccaneers during the 2020-21 season, averaging 11.8 points and 7.3 rebounds in 27.4 minutes. The rookie also made 52 three-pointers, while shooting just under 80 percent at the free throw line. In addition to being named the SoCon Freshman of the Year, he also earned Third-Team All-Conference honors.
The 6-6, 215-pound redshirt freshman was named a finalist for the Kyle Macy award. The award is given to the top freshman in Division I basketball. He also earned All-District honors from Basketball Times, being named to the All-Freshman Second Team along with ACC counterparts Scottie Barnes (Florida State) and Day’Ron Sharpe (North Carolina).
Monsanto registered four double-doubles this season, along with having a stretch where scored at least 20 points in five-straight games, becoming the first ETSU player to accomplish the feat since 2016. During that five-game run from Jan. 23 -- Feb. 6, Monsanto averaged 22.4 points and 9.2 rebounds, while shooting 56 percent from the field (38-68) and 58 percent from three-point range (23-40). He was named the SoCon Player of the Week on Feb. 2.
Monsanto was among the freshman national leaders in three-pointers made (6th), rebounds per game (T9th) and total points (T21st) for the 2020-21 season among all active Division I freshmen. He led the Bucs with a career-high 23-points against the Crimson Tide of Alabama on Dec. 22, while also grabbing a career-best nine rebounds. Monsanto was 8-of-13 from the field and accounted for six of the Bucs’ nine made threes.
As a high school player for Western High School in Pembroke Pines, Florida, Monsanto averaged 28.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.9 assists during his senior season. Following his stellar senior year, Monsanto earned Sun Sentinel’s Class 9A-7A Broward County Player of the Year honors and led the Wildcats to the state regional semifinals, which was their deepest playoff run in school history. The First Team All-State 9A selection poured in 25 points in the first-round playoff win over Deerfield Beach.
Monsanto has four years of eligibility remaining.
