After Clemson men’s basketball’s abrupt end to their season, Brad Brownell has continued the reloading process, recently acquiring two transfers through the portal.
On Monday, forward Jake Wahlin announced his commitment to the Tigers after a strong sophomore campaign for the University of Utah. Wahlin is the fifth of a notable group of key players who have recently declared their interest in joining Brownell and his team this season.
Wahlin, a 6-foot-10 power forward, entered the portal after averaging 6.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 23 starts of his 33 games as a sophomore for the Utes. This improvement was significant from his freshman season. He will look to continue to develop his skills under Brownell and the rest of the coaching staff, who have an accomplished portfolio of developing frontcourt talent.
The Tigers have remained busy since March. Just one day before the acquisition of Wahlin, guard Efrem “Butta” Johnson announced that he plans to transfer from the University of Alabama at Birmingham to Clemson. Johnson will be a valuable addition to the new-look Tigers and should provide a veteran presence that could be vital to the team’s success, especially in the team’s backcourt.
With the influx of talent and potential entering the Clemson frontcourt, the need for backcourt prospects has also been evident. Johnson will offer a commanding role at the guard position, and with just one year of eligibility remaining, some much-appreciated experience as well.
Johnson’s game is just as smooth as his nickname, as he comes from a strong junior season in which he averaged 8.8 points and 2.1 rebounds while shooting 32% from beyond the arc. The guard also capped off his time as a Blazer in an impressive fashion, totaling 17 points in the AAC tournament championship against Memphis.
This has been a strong off-season so far for Brownell and his Tigers, as they continue to add players through the portal and reinforce the roster in hopes of continuing the program’s success in recent years. The team still has two scholarship spots remaining.
