Ashleigh Snyder
Clemson veteran Dillon Hunter defends former Kentucky guard Jaxson Robinson en route to a 70-66 upset victory last season.
Clemson men’s basketball’s loss to McNeese State in the NCAA Tournament wasn’t the ending the program envisioned, but it marked the start of a busy offseason.
Head coach Brad Brownell entered the spring needing to replace several key contributors. Chase Hunter, Viktor Lakhin, Jaeden Zackery and Ian Schieffelin exhausted their eligibility, and other members of the team entered the transfer portal.
The departures left Clemson without four of its top eight contributors from last season and just one returning player who saw the floor: Dillon Hunter.
Brownell went full force onto the high school recruiting trail, landing the No. 3 all-time signee, Zac Foster, a combo guard. He also landed three-star forwards Chase Thompson, Blake Davidson and Trent Steinour, per 247Sports.
With several roster spots still open, he secured a veteran-heavy transfer class to add proven production and experience.
The Tigers return with Hunter, who started 20 games last season, and will also see redshirt freshmen Dallas Thomas and Ace Buckner join the active roster. Both were four-star prospects in the 2023 recruiting class and practiced with the team throughout last season.
Nick Davidson — forward/center, Nevada
Davidson, a 6-foot-10 standout, was the Tigers’ first commitment out of the transfer portal for Clemson. He announced his decision on April 2.
Rated a four-star transfer by 247Sports, Davidson averaged 15.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and more than one block per game in 2024-25 with Nevada. His ability to score inside and stretch the floor gives Clemson a versatile option in the frontcourt.
The redshirt senior’s campaign with the Wolfpack in the 2023-24 season earned him Third Team All-Mountain West honors.
Efrem ‘Butta’ Johnson — guard, UAB
Johnson averaged 11.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists during UAB’s 2023-24 season, the last time the Blazers made the NCAA Tournament.
The senior shot 43% from the field that season, with an impressive 36% from the 3-point range and 82% from the line.
Johnson’s playing time dipped last season, but he brings three years of Division I experience and a proven scoring touch. With Clemson only having two other guards with Division I starts — Hunter and fellow transfer Jestin Porter — Johnson will have the opportunity to play a significant role.
RJ Godfrey — forward, Georgia
Godfrey played two seasons at Clemson before transferring to Georgia last year. He averaged 6.1 points and 3.4 rebounds during Clemson’s 2024 Elite Eight run and appeared in 31 games for the Bulldogs last season.
In April, he re-entered the transfer portal and returned to Littlejohn Coliseum, giving the Tigers a familiar presence in the rotation.
Jestin Porter — guard, Middle Tennessee State
Porter, the 6-foot-1 guard, began his career at Tyler Junior College, where he averaged 20 points per game over two seasons before transferring to Middle Tennessee State.
He started all 33 games for MTSU last season, averaging 15 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 36.4% from 3-point range. Porter’s scoring ability and experience at point guard address one of Clemson’s biggest roster needs.
Carter Welling — forward, Utah Valley
At 6-foot-10, Welling is one of Clemson’s more intriguing transfers.
The two-time transfer averaged 13.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and nearly two blocks per game last season. Welling was named the 2024-25 WAC Defensive Player of the Year and earned Second Team All-WAC honors.
With his frame, Welling provides rim protection and rebounding while also having the ability to score from the mid-range.
Jake Wahlin — forward, Utah
Wahlin appeared in 33 games for Utah last season, averaging 6.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game on 46.7%, 35.1% and 66.7% shooting splits.
The 6-foot-10 forward’s combination of size and outside shooting could give Clemson flexibility in its frontcourt rotations.
With a returning veteran, promising redshirt freshmen and a deep transfer class, Clemson is focusing less on rebuilding and more on retooling for another postseason push.
The new roster gives Brownell options, with size in the frontcourt and more scoring on the perimeter. Getting the mix of new and returning players to click will be important, and summer workouts will focus on getting everyone comfortable in the system before preseason starts in October.