Wake Forest counting on freshman Miller-McIntyre

Published Jul. 27, 2012 4:13 p.m. ET

foxsports

Codi Miller-McIntyre knows he's got a tough job ahead of him at Wake Forest.

It's not easy for a freshman to begin his career as a starting point guard in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and Miller-McIntyre doesn't want to psych himself out this summer by dwelling on the enormity of that task.

''I really try not to think about it too much,'' Miller-McIntyre said. ''Nothing that's worth it is going to be easy. It's going to take a lot of hard work.''

The Demon Deacons clearly are counting on Miller-McIntyre - and the rest of their seven-man freshman class - to serve as the foundation of third-year coach Jeff Bzdelik's rebuilding project.

The team's latest flurry of transfers and defections has left Wake Forest with only four returning scholarship players. That means few - if any - of those freshmen will have the luxury of easing into college and instead will have to contribute right away.

Last year's point guard, Tony Chennault, transferred to Villanova - clearing the way for Miller-McIntyre to start at the point from Day 1.

So, the Concord native says he has spent much of the summer picking the brain of senior and four-year starter C.J. Harris so he can better handle the adjustment.

Harris ''has seen everything through his three years already at Wake Forest,'' Miller-McIntyre said. ''Talking to him a lot (to learn) what certain things to work on. Then as far as mentally, thinking about something that can cause a lot of stress - I just try not to think about it. Whatever's meant to be will be.''

Hargrave Military Academy coach A.W. Hamilton, who a decade ago played guard at Wake Forest and Marshall, says Miller-McIntyre has the tools to succeed at the highest level of college basketball.

Hamilton says his point guard has flawless touch on his mid-range jump shot, noticeable muscle on his 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame and all-ACC talent. And he thinks playing at Hargrave helped Miller-McIntyre develop valuable leadership skills that should pay off with the Demon Deacons.

After leading Hargrave to a 38-1 record, he was rated by both high-profile recruiting services as a four-star prospect. Rivals.com says he's the ninth-best point guard nationally in his recruiting class while Scout.com has him as the 14th-best at his position.

Miller-McIntyre does have some familiarity with his new teammates because they played together at previous stops during their careers. He and 7-foot center Andre Washington came to Wake Forest from Hargrave, and he played AAU ball with forward Aaron Rountree.

''It helps a lot because I know each person's game,'' Miller-McIntyre said. ''I figured out where (Rountree) likes to catch the ball. That's a plus. Dre likes the ball on the right side and hits a little hook shot and can also hit the mid-range jump shot, free-throw line area.''