Last season, Clemson basketball won 27 games, the most in program history. But this year, the goal is to move on further than the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Clemson basketball.
Brad Brownell has done an outstanding job of not only keeping Clemson basketball relevant in the ACC, but lately, keeping them on the scene in all of college hoops. The Tigers have been ranked in the AP Poll, at one time or another, in six of the last eight seasons. Last year, they made it into the top 10 for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
But even though it was a season to remember, they fell short to McNeese, getting upset in the first round of March Madness. This season, it’ll be about trying to get back there and move on further in the tourney.
To do that, Brad Brownell brought in another great transfer class of frontcourt players who can chip in on the glass, but also stretch out and hit threes. Brownell loves big men who can rotate to other positions and keep the offensive flow moving, and what better way than to add former Nevada star Nick Davidson, Utah Valley big man Carter Welling, and Utah’s Jake Wahlin.
Safe to say Brownell took his talents out west to find these guys, but in all seriousness, that’s a great trio of bigs if you want guys who can do more than just stick around the paint. All three of them are 6-10 and shot at least 35% from three last season, so you have to pay attention on the glass and guard them when they step out behind the arc. That makes for tough defensive adjustments, and being able to have more than just one stretch big is an abundance of riches.
To help with the rebounding, RJ Godfrey makes his way back to Clemson, where he might be in line to start in his senior season.
The backcourt and wing depth may be an issue, but there is potential. Dillon Hunter returns and figures to run the point and should have solid help with Middle Tennessee transfer Jestin Porter by his side. Porter was a two-time All-Conference USA guard, so even though he’s transferring up to the ACC, he’s got the talent to adjust to power conference hoops.
Butta Johnson, a former UAB guard, Zac Thomas, a top-75 recruit, and Ace Buckner, a top-150 recruit in 2024, round out the backcourt. It isn’t deep, but it is five players who could be enough to hold their own with such a talented lineup around them. And even though Thomas is a freshman, he’s one of the top incoming recruits in the ACC, and is certainly a name to watch as a projected backup point guard.
There’s also Dallas Thomas, a former top-100 recruit in 2024, who could be a name to watch for added depth. He’s 6-9, but has guard traits, and should be able to slot in at multiple positions when players get into foul trouble.
Overall, coach Brownell has the roster makeup to make it back to the big dance, but the ceiling will all depend on who steps up to star in the backcourt.
Head coach:Â Brad Brownell (16th season at Clemson, 24th season overall)
2024-25 record:Â 27-7 (18-2)
2025 postseason finish:Â Lost to McNeese, 69-67, in first round of NCAA Tournament
Notable departures:Â
- Chase Hunter (16.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 40.7 3P%)
- Ian Schieffelin (12.4 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.7 APG)
- Jaeden Zackery (11.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.1 SPG, 36.0 3P%)
- Viktor Lakhin (11.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.5 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 50.7 FG%, 37.5 3P%)
- Chauncey Wiggins (8.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 0.7 APG, 36.5 3P%)
- Jake Heidbreder (4.1 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 0.8 APG, 37.3 3P%)
- Del Jones (3.8 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 1.0 APG)
- Myles Foster (2.3 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 0.1 APG, 56.1 FG%)
Notable non-conference games:Â
- at Georgetown (Nov. 15)
- vs. West Virginia (Nov. 21) – Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic
- vs. Georgia OR Xavier (Nov. 23) – Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic
- at Alabama (Dec. 3)
- vs. BYU (Dec. 9) – Madison Square Garden
- vs. South Carolina (Dec. 16)
- vs. Cincinnati (Dec. 21) – Greenville, S.C.
Projected Rotation
PG: Dillon Hunter (6-3, 192, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 5.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.9 APG
SG: Jestin Porter (6-1, 180, Gr.-Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 15.0 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 36.4 3P% (Middle Tennessee)
SF: RJ Godfrey (6-8, 230, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 6.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 53.2 FG% (Georgia)
PF: Nick Davidson (6-10, 238, Rs.-Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 15.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.2 BPG, 50.0 FG%, 37.1 3P% (Nevada)
C: Carter Welling (6-10, 225, Jr.)
2024-25 stats: 13.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.8 BPG, 35.3 3P% (Utah Valley)
6: Butta Johnson (6-4, 180, Sr.)
2024-25 stats: 8.8 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 36.7 FG% (UAB)
7: Jake Wahlin (6-10, 212, Jr.)
2024-25 stats: 6.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.5 APG, 35.1 3P% (Utah)
8: Zac Foster (6-4, 180, Fr.)
247Sports Composite #65-ranked recruit
9: Dallas Thomas (6-9, 180, Rs.-Fr.)
247Sports Composite #79-ranked recruit (2024)
10: Ace Buckner (6-3, 170, Rs.-Fr.)
247Sports Composite #136-ranked recruit (2024)
11: Chase Thompson (6-8, 215, Fr.)
247Sports Composite #206-ranked recruit
12: Trent Steinour (6-10, 215, Fr.)
247Sports Composite #294-ranked recruit
13: Blake Davidson (6-9, 200, Fr.)
247Sports Composite #239-ranked recruit
Clemson basketball team MVP: Nick Davidson
If you’re asking anyone to star on this Clemson team, I’d pick Nick Davidson. While having a star player handle the load isn’t the way Brownell typically runs things, the power forward position has been very important in the past, and Davidson is the top transfer get.
The former Nevada player averaged close to 16 points per game a season ago and, as a versatile forward, is able to shoot, slash, and post up. That’s the ideal player in Brownell’s system, and Davidson should thrive in that role.
He’ll have to replace Ian Schieffelin, and honestly, I think he’ll do just fine, if not better. Schieffelin was a motor and nearly averaged a double-double, and while I see Davidson hovering around 5.5-7.0 rebounds per game, he’s more offensively gifted. Schieffelin worked hard and went 110% to get his buckets, while Davidson brings a craftiness to the game that can keep defenders off balance.
He’s practically a near carbon copy of what Clemson has had at this position in the last few years, but his shooting should make it even more difficult to guard for whoever the Tigers go up against. And playing alongside Carter Welling should work wonders.
Clemson basketball make-or-break player: Dillon Hunter
The Tigers don’t really have a true point guard on this roster, so Hunter gets the keys to the offense, and we’ll see how well he can drive it.
Luckily, Brownell’s offense requires everyone – 1 through 5 – to be able to pass and keep it moving, which should benefit Hunter in a bit of a new role. And obviously, Hunter’s not really new to playing point, just being the starting point guard. Last year, we saw him play alongside Chase Hunter, which led to some off-ball playing time as well. This year, we will probably see much fewer of that and more of Hunter bringing it up with Jestin Porter by his side.
It will be fun to see how Hunter plays with an increase in minutes and a clearly defined role. In three years at Clemson, he’s improved on his shooting efficiency, and he’s always been someone who values the basketball. Now, he’ll have the ball in his hands much more, so he’ll have to make great decisions every time he’s going up the floor.
Key analytic: True tempo
According to EvanMiya, Clemson basketball was tied for second-to-last in the ACC in true tempo last season, scoring a 65.7 in the category. Only Virginia placed worse (surprise).
This season, Clemson is projected for a similar finish, but you have to wonder if it’s something they want to change or keep the same. We often talk about UVA as mastering the art of playing slow basketball, but maybe we need to applaud Brownell and the Tigers for being able to win a lot of games by doing the same.
With Hunter and Porter running the backcourt, I could see an increase in speed to try and get a few quick pushes, but overall, if it works, don’t fix it. And for Clemson, it’s been working for a while now.
Clemson basketball 2025-26 projections
Projected conference finish: 7th in the ACC
Projected postseason ceiling:Â NCAA Tournament Round of 64 exit