On Thursday, Clemson men’s basketball star center PJ Hall announced on Twitter that he would return to Littlejohn Coliseum for his senior year.
Hall declared for the NBA Draft in March, only days after Clemson’s NIT first-round loss to Morehead State. However, he maintained his college eligibility during his decision, hinting at a potential return for his senior year if he decided to do so.
The third-team All-ACC player recently worked out in the NBA G League Elite, earning himself an invitation to the NBA Draft Combine. However, the center withdrew his name from the draft board and will return to the Tigers for his fourth season, despite turning heads and impressing scouts over the past few weeks.
The news is a sigh of relief for head coach Brad Brownell, who returns his star center and leading scorer from last season. Hall averaged 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and blocked 1.1 shots per game last season. In his junior season, the center was lethal from everywhere, shooting almost 40% from three-point range.
The Tigers were slim at the big man position before Hall’s announcement to return, with only UNC Greensboro transfer Bas Leyte at the position after former Tiger Ben Middlebrooks transferred to NC State.
Despite star player and first-team All-ACC forward Hunter Tyson running out of eligibility, Clemson has been able to reload for the upcoming 2023-2024 season. Hopes are high that Hall’s decision is the final piece of the puzzle to return to and surpass last season’s success.