Justin Abson is headed to Wake Forest for his fifth year, and the Demon Deacons are betting that his value will show up long before any box score does.
The former Appalachian State and Georgia center officially committed last week, giving Wake another experienced body in the frontcourt as the team prepares for a demanding non-conference stretch. With so many new faces arriving, the Deacons are going to need players who can settle in quickly. Abson fits that bill.
Wake Forest has already added several new pieces this summer, including Merrimack transfer Kevair Kennedy, and the roster now includes a mix of players coming from all over. That kind of turnover means chemistry will matter, and Abson’s experience should make him easier to plug into the rotation.
What he brings is obvious the moment you look at him: size, length and a natural shot-blocker’s frame. At 6'9", Abson has the kind of build coaches want protecting the rim, and that’s where his strongest impact has come. In his senior year at Georgia, he averaged just 2.9 points, but he also put up 1.6 blocks in only 11.5 minutes per game.
That defensive edge matters for Wake because the Deacons have lost several big men through graduation and the transfer portal, including the gaps left by Tre'Von Spillers and others. Abson joins Ring Nyeri and Vincent Chaudri as the third forward to transfer to Wake Forest this summer, giving the roster more depth where it needs it most.
Scoring probably won’t be the selling point here. The appeal is the other stuff: defense, versatility and the kind of veteran presence that can steady a younger group. For a developing team, that kind of player can become the glue - the one who brings energy, toughness and a little edge when the game starts to tilt.
There is still an eligibility wrinkle to sort out. Abson was part of the 2022 recruiting class, which meant his eligibility ran out just before the new fifth-year rules were released. But after a group of players sued the NCAA, a Colorado judge granted the 2022 class another year of eligibility.
If Abson can secure an injunction from a state court, he would be cleared to play this season. That path has already been used by other college athletes, most notably Trinidad Chambliss, who received an injunction from an Oxford judge to play college football for Ole Miss.
If that happens, Wake Forest gets exactly what it needs: an experienced defensive presence who can help anchor the season.
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