Early-career depth forward with hustle and upside
In the 2025-26 season, Jaylen Cross has been a low-usage freshman for Wake Forest, averaging about 1.8 points and 1.0 rebounds in roughly 5 minutes per game while shooting 42.1% from the field, with flashes like back-to-back made threes against Duke and Pitt. [2][5][9] His value is less about box-score volume and more about energy: Wake Forest notes he has already contributed in short bursts with rebounding, steals, and quick-impact minutes, and reports from his college career describe strong hustle and work ethic. [9][11] He looks like a fit for teams needing a bench forward who plays hard, knows his role, and can grow into more offense over time. [9][11]
