Skip Prosser arrived in Winston-Salem last season to coach the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, a senior dominated squad, and led them to the second round of the NCAA tournament. But earning a 23-11 overall record (9-7 ACC), third place in the ACC behind powerhouses Duke and Maryland, and a second round appearance in the NCAA tournament was not nearly as difficult as recruiting a player for each position to fill the floor for this season.
Two-thirds of the team's scoring was lost to last seasons' graduating class. Darius Songaila, Craig Dawson, Antwan Scott and Broderick Hicks combined for 49.9 points per game for Wake Forest last season. These seniors put Wake third in scoring in the ACC with 82 points per game.
Consequently, Wake Forest's success this season rests in the hands of their lone senior, standout forward Josh Howard.
"My role this year is to lead the team," Howard said. "This year I have to be the guy that everyone looks to. I'm up for the challenge."
A potential all-American, Howard has already been tabbed as a first team all conference selection and has made the Naismith Preseason List for potential player of the year honors. Last season, the Winston-Salem native ranked in the top 10 in the ACC in five different statistical categories.
Severe shin splints may hinder his production this season. Howard has not been practicing at full speed and even took time off because of the injury. Howard's potentially lingering shin problems only speeds up the need for the Deacons talented freshman class to develop.
"The performance of our freshmen will determine how well we do this season," Howard said. "They are the key."
Prosser's first recruiting class at Wake has talent to fill in the gaps. Freshman center Eric Williams is the Deacons' first McDonald's All-American in a decade and averaged 26 points and 13 rebounds a game for Wake Forest-Rolesville High School. Williams has the size -- 6-foot-9, 270 plus pounds -- to compete with other conference centers.
"He's surprisingly nimble for someone his size. The best feature about Eric is his willingness to learn and listen," Prosser said.
Although sophomore Taron Downey, who played well down the stretch last season, is slated to start at point, he will be challenged by freshman Justin Gray. Downey (6-0, 181) shot 40.8 percent from three-point range last season, but Gray posted high numbers at Oak Hill High School.
Freshmen Trent Strickland, Richard Joyce (6-5, 211) and Chris Ellis (6-6, 265) will add depth to Prosser's bench.
Though they lost a combined 600 games of experience from last year's senior class, the Deacons still have talent in their sophomore, junior and senior classes. Sophomore forward Vytas Danelius (6-8, 228) will be asked to make up for production lost after Songaila's departure. Danelius had a team best 56.6 field-goal percentage last season.
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