[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2024 draft prospects from Sports Business Class alumni.]

Hunter Sallis
Frame: 6’5″ 175 lbs
Position: Guard
Team: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
2024 Draft Age: 21
Stats via www.basketball-reference.com

Offense

Sallis has seen his draft stock take off this year due to a revelation as a shotmaker from behind the arc. During his sophomore year at Gonzaga, Sallas shot 23.8 percent on 42 attempts while being assisted on 90 percent of those shots, according to www.barttorvik.com. The Wake Forest transfer has shot 40.6 percent on 138 attempts while being assisted on 78.6 percent. He has fine-tuned his mechanics as an off-ball shooter and has become more consistent. He is more of a stationary shooter due to his relatively broad base, but he can slide from the wing down to the corner when on the weak side. Sallis has become more comfortable scoring on the ball, rising from three coming off a ball screen, or side-stepping/stepping back into his shot. He was sped up in his previous two seasons when trying to create space instead of utilizing the chance of pace to get off cleaner looks in 2024. 

Another area of growth for Sallis has been his mid-range scoring. He has always been efficient from that area, shooting 46.2 percent on long twos on 26 attempts while being assisted on 16.7 percent of those shots in 2023. Which suggested he could be a quality shot maker with more usage. That has proven to be the case this year, shooting 49.2 percent on 130 attempts while being assisted on 9.2 percent of these shots. He does a great job getting to his spots at will and rising over defenders without hesitation, frequently taking two to three dribbles and pulling up for a shot. His release is a bit higher this year, combined with his 6’10” wingspan, which allows him to do this. Sallis frequently elects to use his size on the wing and reach his spots around the free-throw line to rise over smaller guards. Sallis does not create much separation on these attempts, which is something to monitor at the next level. 

Sallis has been steady throughout his collegiate career at the rim, which remains the case this year. He is shooting 65.9 percent on 82 attempts while being assisted on 33.3 percent of those shots. This year, he has done an excellent job using the threat of his shot to bait defenders into biting on the fake and getting past them. His control has also improved, stopping on a dime and using his pivot foot to trick defenders. He can have acrobatic finishes paired with a soft touch, specifically with his right hand. Sallis has displayed powerful flushes when he has a clear lane to the rim, even being used as a play finisher on backdoor lobs. 

His growth as a lead guard will likely be his swing skill at the next level. Despite seeing a massive jump in usage this season from 14.2 percent in 2023 to 23.6 percent, the assist stats have yet to follow. He has only seen his assist percentage go from 11.1 percent in 2023 to 14.3 percent in 2024. He is prone to missing open reads on the floor, whether that be his roll man around the rim or open shooters on the weak side wing or corner. When he makes these passes, they are often late or lacking in touch. The big man must make the extra effort to catch the pass or vice versa for his teammate spotting up.

Defense

Sallis thrives as an on-ball defender. He uses his length to pester opposing ball handlers and does a good job sliding his feet to stay in front of them. His energy often stands out on film when beating players to their spots. He frequently dives to grab loose balls after plucking them free from opposing players. Sallis stands to become more consistent as a pick-and-roll ball handler, as he struggles at times to get around the ball screen, which results in a two-on-one for the opposing guard and big man. 

Sallis shines as a help defender with his motor and activity. He excels at rotating when the ball is swinging around on the perimeter. When three to four passes away, he will often telegraph the pass coming to his man and intercept it for a pick-six. On the season, Sallis has a steal percentage of 1.6 percent while averaging a steal per game. He has shown flashes of providing weak side rim protection by rotating to block shots from behind or offering more rim protection. He has blocked a few corner threes this season as well.

On the glass, Sallis uses his athleticism and motor to occasionally rise over bigs and grab boards. He often goes after rebounds and does a good job pushing the break for the Demon Deacons. Of the four rebounds he averages on the season, 3.3 are defensive. 

Looking Ahead

The former five-star recruit has grabbed the reins in a new situation and has not let go. Sallis has become a legitimate three-level scorer, showcasing vastly improved three-point scoring to pair with his efficient mid-range scoring. He also brings energy and versatility on the defensive side of the floor. 

Sallis projects to be a spark plug off the bench to begin his career and garner late first-round attention. With plenty of room to grow as a decision-maker and ball handler, Sallis’ growth as a facilitator will likely determine his position offensively at the next level—leaving room for him to grow into a two-way NBA starter.