Clemson basketball saw a much-needed successful season last year on its way to the Elite Eight, its second in school history.
Brad Brownell’s squad exceeded expectations, fighting past some of the top seeds in the NCAA Tournament before eventually falling to the No. 4-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide.
The Tigers finished the 2024 season with a record of 24-12 and entered the tournament as a No. 6 seed. The team went on to win three straight games, including upset wins over No. 3 Baylor and a tournament favorite in the No. 2-seeded Arizona Wildcats. The Tigers will look to repeat the success that they accomplished last season and capitalize on the momentum they built.
Clemson will need to adjust to some major roster changes this year, with many players graduating and moving on to new ventures. Most notable are center PJ Hall, who signed a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets, and guard Joseph Girard III, who opted to play overseas in Lithuania. Both guard Joshua Beadle and forward Jack Clark entered the portal and transferred to new schools. With the departure of these stars, the team will lean heavily on the few returning players and look for some new faces to step into significant roles this season.
This new-look team began the year strong, opening the year with a 91-64 win over Charleston Southern at Littlejohn Coliseum on Monday night.
The starting lineup will be led by returning senior forward Ian Schieffelin, who boasts a stellar stat line and a charismatic, team-first attitude. Schieffelin played a crucial part in the Tigers’ Elite Eight run, averaging close to a double-double and shooting over 56% from the field over the course of the season.
Also returning to compete for the Tigers are guard brothers Chase and Dillon Hunter. Last season, Chase Hunter averaged 12.9 points per game, dished out 3.2 assists per game and shot over 42% while serving in an important floor general role, leading the offense down the court.
Chase Hunter started on the right foot on Monday night, scoring 17 points in this final opening game of his collegiate career — 15 of which came in the first half.
The Tigers also welcome back guard Jake Heidbreder, who will look to establish himself as a key piece of the scoring attack after sitting out most of last season due to injury and medically redshirting. A duo of forwards return to the front court, junior Chauncey Wiggins and redshirt freshman Asa Thomas.
Brownell, who will begin his 15th season as head coach of the Tigers, was busy this offseason landing several big names through the transfer portal. Boston College-turned Clemson guard Jaeden Zackery entered the transfer portal after averaging 11.3 points and 4.2 assists, both career highs, in 36 games last season. Zackery was a force on defense in Clemson’s opening win against the Buccaneers. He recorded three steals while playing stifling defense against Charleston Southern’s backcourt.
In place of Hall, Viktor Lakhin will take the job as Clemson’s center. A reliable force for Cincinnati, the senior averaged 9.2 points and 6 rebounds per game last season with the Bearcats.
Former Duke center Christian Reeves brings an athletic 7-foot-2, 253-pound frame and an all-around skillset to the frontcourt. A former four-star recruit and Oak Hill Academy alumnus, Reeves only played 16 games total at Duke due to injuries but showed impressive flashes of talent, including a knack for bringing down rebounds.
The last transfer that joined the Tigers through the portal, forward Myles Foster, transferred to Clemson following three years at Monmouth and an additional year at Illinois State, where he emerged as a rising star averaging 12.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. The forward brings energy to any team he joins, scoring 17 points in his debut against Charleston Southern on Monday night after coming off the bench.
Coming off a great season, the Tigers will again look to make their March Madness dreams come true and end with a national championship trophy this season.
The team will be back in action at Littlejohn Coliseum against Saint Francis University on Friday night at 7 p.m.
