Wake Forest has added a major defensive piece for its 2026-27 roster, landing graduate transfer Justin Abson as the Demon Deacons continue to build around size and shot-blocking.
Abson arrives from Georgia with a reputation that travels fast in college basketball: elite rim protection. The 6-foot-9 forward has piled up 239 career blocks, which ranked fourth among active Division I players after the 2025-26 season ended. He also finished third in the SEC in blocked shots last season and averaged 1.6 blocks per game for the Bulldogs.
Steve Forbes made it clear Wake Forest has been tracking Abson for a while.
"We recruited Justin two years ago when he entered the transfer portal at Appalachian State with Tre Spillers," said head coach Steve Forbes. "During that time, we developed a very good relationship with Justin and his mom.
When he reached out to us about his interest in our program, we were very excited about having the opportunity to coach him. Justin is an outstanding shot blocker along with being a great person and student.
He is a great fit for Wake Forest and our program."
Abson spent the last two seasons in Athens after starting his college career at Appalachian State, where he built his defensive résumé into something that stood out nationally. During his two years with the Mountaineers, he appeared in 66 games and made 56 starts, putting up 466 points, 428 rebounds and 166 blocks. He was named the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year after helping App State to a 27-7 record, a Sun Belt regular-season title and an NIT berth in 2023-24.
His final season at Georgia brought more of the same impact on the back end. Abson played in 59 games over his two years with the Bulldogs, helping them reach back-to-back NCAA Tournament bids. He shot 63.5 percent from the field and graduated from Georgia with a bachelor's degree in sport management in May 2026.
The Coconut Creek, Fla. native also brings international experience. He represented Jamaica in qualifying games for the 2027 FIBA World Cup this past summer, and he also played for Jamaica in the FIBA Americas World Cup Pre-Qualifying tournament in 2025 and on Jamaica’s 3x3 team at the Caribbean Games in 2022.
Before college, Abson was a standout at North Broward Prep School, where he earned two All-State selections and three All-Broward County honors. Over his high school career, he averaged 13.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.
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