June 6, 2008

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest's three incoming freshmen have selected their jersey numbers for the upcoming 2008-09 season. Forward Al-Farouq Aminu will wear #1, center Ty Walker will don #40 and center Tony Woods will sport #55.

Aminu is just the second-ever Demon Deacon to wear #1 but has big shoes to fill. Justin Gray, a three-time All-ACC selection, wore the single digit from 2003-06.

Walker is the 11th Deacon to wear #40 and the first since Sean Allen donned the jersey for two seasons from 1996-97. Three players have earned all-conference honors with the number. Frank Christie was a first team All-ACC selection in 1964. Sam Ivy picked up second team honors in 1988, while Trelonnie Owens was a third team selection in 1994.

Woods is the 11th Deacon to wear #55. The jersey was last worn by 2007 All-ACC third team selection Kyle Visser. Visser sported the number from 2004-07, becoming the first to wear #55 since Steve Rich in 1993. Anthony Teachey (1981-84) was the only other Deacon to earn all-conference honors in the number, making the 1984 second team.

Aminu, Walker and Woods make up what is ranked as the third-best incoming freshmen class in the country, according to Rivals.com. Rivals also ranked Aminu as the seventh-best recruit in the class, Walker as the 17th-best and Woods as the 20th-best. The trio signed national letters of intent with Wake Forest last November.