First reported by Evan Daniels of 247 Sports — Marcus Watson, an incoming signee with Wake Forest, asked for and was released from his National Letter of Intent.
Watson, a 3-star prospect, ranks the No. 29 point guard in the 2020 class, per 247 Sports. The 5-foot-10 Chicago product committed to Wake Forest last August, and signed three months later — with Danny Manning as the program’s coach.
With the transition to Steve Forbes at coach, Wake Forest has gone through some roster reconstruction this offseason. Initially, Manning signed a four-person class in 2020; however, three of those prospects have already asked for a release from their LOI. This includes 3-star big man Jaylon Gibson, who quickly pledged to NC State after his release.
2020 Wake Forest signee Marcus Watson asked for and has received a release from his Letter of Intent, he tells @247Sports. Watson had originally committed to Danny Manning.
— Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) May 24, 2020
After Forbes was hired, Watson indicated that he planned to still play for Wake Forest. In the interim, Forbes was able to retain several key veteran players to the program: Isaiah Mucius, Ismael Massoud, Ody Oguama and Jahcobi Neath.
Forbes, however, was unable to keep All-ACC center Olivier Sarr, who transferred to Kentucky three weeks ago.
In recent weeks, with Watson and Wake Forest, rumors swirled that the relationship’s status was set to change. Sunday’s result confirms those suspicions. The only player remaining in Wake Forest’s 2020 recruiting class, currently, is Quadry Adams, a 3-star guard from New Jersey. (3-star wing Djimon Bailey also got out of his LOI.)
Three transfers are set to join the program, too: grad transfers Ian DuBose and Jonah Antonio, along with Isaiah Wilkins from Virginia Tech. Both DuBose and Wilkins committed to Wake Forest when Manning was still the coach, too.
Wake Forest is in the mix for prized Georgetown transfer Mac McClung, along with Daivien Williamson, who played for Forbes at East Tennessee State.