Clemson Basketball: 2023-24 season preview for the Tigers

Key Reserves for Clemson Basketball

 Sr. Jake Heidbredder

Heidbredder is transferring into Clemson this season after have a very successful season with Air Force in 2022-23. The guard averaged 15.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, while shooting 48.8% from the floor and 39.9% from three last season. He will likely be the go-to guard on the bench for Brownell and the Tigers in 2023-24. Heidbredder will look to provide offense when guys like Girard and Hunter need to rest. the hope is to always at least have one of Hall, Girard, Hunter, or Heidbredder on the court at all times so the offense won’t struggle as much. There were stretches were Clemson would struggle on that side of the ball, so Heidbredder’s offensive talent looks to help Clemson in that regard.

That’s not to say he can’t play defense ethier. Heidbredder averaged 1.2 steals a game last season and played good defense for Air Force while he was there. Hopefully he will be able to apply that to playing in the ACC compared to the Mountain West Conference.

Sr. Alex Hemenway

Alex Hemenway was a key reserve last year for Clemson, and he looks to continue that streak into the 2023-24 season. Hemenway averaged 6.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, while shooting 50% from the floor and an impressive 47.1% from three. Hemenway’s perecentages are what is most impressive about his game. He made half his shots last year and nearly half of all his threes last year as well. His 6’3 frame is also another big guard to add to this tall guard Clemson team. If he can continue to play and shoot this effective and smart he will only be a more important bench piece for this Clemson team.

Sr. Bas Leyte

Bas Leyte transfers in from UNC Greensboro to Clemson this season to give the Tigers some needed depth at the power forward position where he bring some good size. Leyte averaged 7.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, while shooting 48.5% from the floor and 12.5% from three. Leyte isn’t going to shoot the ball outside the paint very much at all, and I’m sure you can just tell that by looking at his percentages. However, he adds some good height to the PF position and although his talent is mostly on the offensive side of the ball, he will be a good body to put down low next to PJ Hall if Clemson needs the height. With Schieffelin coming in at 6’7 it will help having Leyte on the roster.

So. RJ Godfrey

RJ Godfrey played around 9 minutes per game last season and was able to average 3.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, along with an impressive 59.7% shooting on field goals. He should look to get around that same amount this coming season and if he continues to keep shooting at a high percentage he will continue to get more playing time and become a bigger piece of the rotation.

Joshua Beatle & Dillon Hunter

Beatle and Hunter got between 9 and 12 minutes last season, and both had very freshman-like seasons. They both didn’t get too much playing time and while Beatle shot much better than Hunter (59% to 29%), they still both didn’t play too well. They showed signs of promise and that they could be much bigger players in the future or even later in the season.

Fr. Asa Thomas

Asa Thomas will come into Clemson as a 3 star recruit ranking at 215th as of today (per 247sports) . Although he may not get much playing time, it’s important to note if some injuries happen to this Clemson team he may end up getting some playing time near the end of the rotation as a long 6’7 wing on this team.