Last Updated on March 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Wake Forest University has produced several legendary basketball players who have left a lasting impact on both the college game and the NBA. Here are some of the most iconic players in Wake Forest Demon Deacons men’s basketball history:

1. Tim Duncan

  • Full Name: Timothy Theodore Duncan
  • Years at Wake Forest: 1993–1997
  • Position: Power Forward/Center
  • Accolades:
  • 2× ACC Player of the Year (1996, 1997)
  • Naismith College Player of the Year (1997)
  • John Wooden Award Winner (1997)
  • No. 21 jersey retired by Wake Forest
  • NBA Career: Drafted No. 1 overall by the San Antonio Spurs in 1997, Duncan became a five-time NBA champion and one of the greatest power forwards in history.

2. Chris Paul

  • Full Name: Christopher Emmanuel Paul
  • Years at Wake Forest: 2003–2005
  • Position: Point Guard
  • Accolades:
  • ACC Rookie of the Year (2004)
  • Consensus First-Team All-American (2005)
  • No. 3 jersey retired by Wake Forest
  • NBA Career: Selected No. 4 overall by the New Orleans Hornets in 2005, Paul became a multiple-time NBA All-Star and one of the greatest point guards of all time.

3. Randolph Childress

  • Years at Wake Forest: 1990–1995
  • Position: Shooting Guard
  • Accolades:
  • ACC Tournament MVP (1995)
  • All-ACC First Team (1995)
  • Holds the record for most points in a single ACC Tournament (107 points in 1995)
  • Legacy: Childress is best remembered for his legendary 1995 ACC Tournament run, where he led Wake Forest to the title and delivered an iconic crossover against Jeff McInnis of UNC.

4. Rodney Rogers

  • Years at Wake Forest: 1990–1993
  • Position: Small Forward
  • Accolades:
  • ACC Player of the Year (1993)
  • Consensus Second-Team All-American (1993)
  • NBA Career: Drafted No. 9 overall in the 1993 NBA Draft, Rogers played 12 seasons in the NBA and won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 2000.

5. Josh Howard

  • Years at Wake Forest: 1999–2003
  • Position: Small Forward
  • Accolades:
  • ACC Player of the Year (2003)
  • Consensus First-Team All-American (2003)
  • NBA Career: Drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 2003, Howard became an NBA All-Star in 2007.

6. Len Chappell

  • Years at Wake Forest: 1959–1962
  • Position: Power Forward
  • Accolades:
  • ACC Player of the Year (1962)
  • Consensus First-Team All-American (1962)
  • Led Wake Forest to the 1962 Final Four
  • NBA Career: Chappell played in the NBA for nearly a decade and was an NBA All-Star in 1964.

7. Muggsy Bogues

  • Years at Wake Forest: 1983–1987
  • Position: Point Guard
  • Accolades:
  • First-Team All-ACC (1987)
  • ACC’s all-time leader in assists and steals at the time of his departure
  • NBA Career: The shortest player in NBA history (5’3”), Bogues had a long career and became a fan favorite, primarily with the Charlotte Hornets.

Other Notable Players:

Dave Budd (1956–1960) – Helped Wake Forest reach its first Final Four in 1962.

Skip Brown (1973–1977) – One of Wake Forest’s top scorers in history.

Jeff Teague (2007–2009) – A key player in Wake Forest’s resurgence, later won an NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Wake Forest has a rich basketball tradition, producing some of the greatest college and NBA players. Would you like more details on any of these legends?