Clemson Basketball: 2023-24 season preview for the Tigers

Potential starting lineup for Clemson Basketball in 2023-24

Point Guard: Sr. Chase Hunter

Chase Hunter will return to Clemson for his redshirt senior season being the seasoned point guard leader for this team. Hunter averaged 13.8 points, 4.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds while shooting 35.6% from three and 41% overall from the floor last season. Hunter led the team in assists last year, and looks to be an even bigger leader in 2023-24.

Hunter was third in scoring last season for the Tigers and although he only shot 41% from the floor last season if he can improve that he will look to be a major leader for this team next season.

Shooting Guard: Sr. Joe Girard

Joe Girard was not just one of the best transfer pickups in the ACC, but in the entire country. Girard comes from Syracuse where he spent the last 4 seasons. Girard has never averaged less than 9 ppg and averaged 16.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3 assists, while shooting an impressive 38.1% from three and 40.3% from the floor overall. Girard was the leading scorer for Syracuse last season and will be a huge player for Brownell’s team next season.

Girard shot only 40.3% from the field last season but if he can have a more consistent overall shot he will be an even more deadly player for the Tigers. Hunter and Girard both have this same promise, if they improve their overall shots they can be extremely dangerous and can make Clemson a hard team to tangle with next season.

Small Forward: Sr. Jack Clark

Jack Clark and Jake Heidbredder were both really competing for this spot for looking at the starting lineup. However, with the amount of offense Girard and Hunter bring to the table I’m thinking Brownell will want to have a more defensive player at the three position, along with a taller player.

Jack Clark transfers in from NC State in his last year of eligibility, and he brings some solid defense to the Clemson Tigers. Clark averaged 9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, while shooting 28.9% from three and 43.6% from the field. Clark averaged 12 points in 2022 but when he joined NC State he shot a better percentage while averaging less points. Clark will be a presence that the Tigers will need next season with his defense.

Although Clark is not the best three point shooter, he is proven to be a decent scorer inside the arc and paired with his defense he can be a good player for Brownell. Clark and his versatileness combined with his 1.7 average steals a game last season should prove to be effective for Clemson this season.

Power Forward: So. Ian Schieffelin

Ian Schieffelin wont jump out stats wise but he is a core player of this Clemson team. He seems to be the glue guy for this team and he a player last year that did a little bit of everything. Schieffelin averaged 5.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, while shooting 55.1% on field goals and 33.3% from three. He is an efficient player and while he doesn’t do anything spectacularly, he doesn’t do much inherently wrong on the basketball court. He plays smart when he is out on the court.

The only thing holding back Schieffelin is his offensive ability, but that is countered by Brownell’s more offensive forward reserves. Schieffelin is a more important player for this Clemson team then you might think and looks to take another jump in 2023-24.

Center: Sr. PJ Hall

PJ Hall is the most important on this Clemson team and will anchor his team for the coming season. Hall is coming off a fantastic season with Clemson last year averaging 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, while shooting 53.5% on field goals and 39.8% from three. Hall was second in scoring for the Tigers last season, and he looks to take the #1 spot on this team next year when it comes to leadership and leading Clemson to wins.

Not only does Hall play efficiently and effectively on offense, but his defense is solid as well. Hall averaged 1.1 blocks last season and his 7 foot frame was proven to be hard to get around. If Hall even takes a slight step forward next season he can elevate Clemson to be a higher rated team in the ACC this coming season.