Former AAU teammates reunite with Wake Forest men’s basketball
A pair of new Wake Forest men’s basketball players are no strangers to traveling with each other.
Mekhi Mason and Nate Calmese — both of whom transferred to the Demon Deacons ahead of the 2025-26 season from the West Coast — played AAU ball together growing up in the same Gilbert, Arizona, neighborhood.
They’re among the newcomers for Wake, which tips off its season Nov. 3. There’s a refreshed confidence in preseason camp as the Deacs are putting up more shots and improving on both ends of the floor. Various returners are back, meshing with new talent determined to play strong team basketball.
And a unique connection.
“Eighth=grade summer AAU, we were 15U against the 17-year-olds, we had a ‘water war’ in the hotel,” Calmese said with a laugh. “I’ll never forget that. Like, it was really funny. Last tournament of the year, and we were roommates at the time.”
‘Deepest team I’ve ever had’
Wake’s new players are impressed with the roster.
Mason transfers in from Washington, where he averaged roughly 10 points per game for the Big Ten school. The senior spent the first two years of his career at Rice, playing in both Conference USA and the American Conference.
The 6-foot-5 guard maintains the sentiment of confidence at his new school.
“It’s really just a full-circle moment,” Mason said. “Coming back to him from playing on an AAU team, and now playing college together, it’s just a blessing. He was always quick, but his development has been awesome to see. The way he knows how to command the team, and his IQ has improved so much. I just promise you he’s one of the most fun people I’ve had to play with.
“This is honestly the deepest team I’ve ever had, or been able to play with. The fact that you can go 1 through 10, 1 through 12 is literally a great thing. Having that depth, it can be anyone’s given night, and that’s what you want in the team.”
Tre’von Spillers returns for Wake this season
Wake’s leading rebounder is back.
Tre’von Spillers returns after pacing the Deacs in offensive rebounds (88), defensive rebounds (155), total rebounds (243) and rebounds per game (7.6). The 6-foot-7 graduate student’s presence is key as the versatile forward has the ability to defend all five positions.
The standout is back alongside Omaha Biliew, who missed time last season with a foot injury, and Salisbury native Juke Harris.
“Just the unselfishness,” Spillers said. “The willingness to just want to see each other do better. I feel like we’re definitely going to be great this year. … I see it more and more every day how we practice. We’re starting to learn each others’ tendencies. When I get the ball, if I’m getting double- teamed, I know for a fact somebody is open.”
Concord native has been among Wake’s most improved early
A local product is impressing in practice.
Sebastian Akins, who played at 1 of 1 Academy, joins the Deacs as a sophomore. The Concord native was named Summit League Freshman of the Year after averaging in double figures for Denver, and his presence is being felt early on Wake’s practice floor this preseason.
“(Akins) has shown the most improvement, him and Cooper Schwieger,” Forbes said. “He’s very dynamic with the ball, he can score, he’s a willing passer — probably got to see it a little more because he’s a scorer — and has good physical size. He’s got to continue to do a great job of running the team.
“But he’s [earned] himself plenty of playing time. We’ll see how that goes as we start, and I’m happy for him.”
‘Never thought we would end up at the same college’
The Arizona-born duo are making their mark on the East Coast.
Calmese, the 6-foot-2 senior guard who grew up playing with Mason, led Washington State with 15.2 points per game. He’d transferred following stints at Washington and Lamar — where he was named 2022-23 Southland Conference Freshman of the Year — and earned All-West Coast Conference honorable mention last season.
“I never thought we would end up at the same college, but those experiences as a young kid playing on an AAU teams, having sleepovers and things like that, it’s just great to now put it all together and play with each other,” Calmese said. “We know each other so well. It’s going to be great this year.
“Stats don’t lie, and our stats have been really, really good. Just the confidence of seeing what we could do as a team, it builds every single day. And it’s been amazing so far. So we can’t wait to get started and play against somebody else.”
