In the realm of college athletics, you’ll typically think only about football when talking about Clemson but Brad Brownell has made it his mission to change that perception for the Tigers. He’s now entering his 17th season at the helm of the school’s basketball program and has done some of this best work here in recent years. The Tigers have made four of the six NCAA Tournaments since the pandemic and have become a more regular contender in the ACC standings.
Last year Clemson was 24 games, tied for 4th place in the ACC race, and made the Big Dance for a third season in a row. It may have been another year where the Tigers were one-and-done in the Tourney, but they finished Top 5 in the ACC for a fourth straight season and have continued to stay in contention even as other programs in this league have gotten stronger.
Tigers look to keep it going
Continuing that momentum won’t be easy and it’s not just because of the strength in this conference. Clemson shed a ton of talent in the offseason, losing top scorers RJ Godfrey and Jestin Porter alongside other seniors like Nick Davidson and Efrem Johnson. There are also a few injury concerns plaguing the lineup entering the season, though we’ll be sure to talk more about those below in our individual breakdowns.
You can absolutely call the incoming transfer haul underrated, though Brownell believes he has the right mix and a talented team can make noise again this conference. We’ll look at where things currently stand and the players who should become valuable contributors this season. With a ton of changes and concerns, can Clemson make it four straight years in the NCAA Tournament?
Projected Starters
Guard – Ace Buckner (Junior)
Perhaps the most prominent returning player currently projected in this lineup, Buckner is a 6-2 guard from Dallas who redshirted and then had a notable role off the bench last season. He averaged 8.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists and should step into a bigger role running the point while hoping to improve his own offensive numbers. Clemson also expects great things from him on the defensive end.
Guard – Cole Certa (Junior)
A notable transfer addition with ACC experience already under his belt, Certa heads to Clemson after a pair of seasons at Notre Dame. A part-time starter last season, Certa put up 12.8 points per game for the Fighting Irish, making 37% of his 3-pointers. He’s a long-range shooter who can score in bunches when he’s on his game and stands to play a key role early and often this season.
Guard/Forward – Liutauras Lelevicius (Senior)
Lelevicius is a 6-7 wing originally from Lithuania who comes Clemson’s way after a season each at Oregon State and TCU. He actually started a majority of the games he played for both schools, including 8.0 points 3.4 rebounds per game last season with the Horned Frogs. He’s an impressive shooter, making around 38% of his 3-pointers in each of his first two collegiate campaigns, and brings experience and versatility into this lineup.
Forward – David Fuchs (Senior)
A 6-9 forward originally from Austria, Fuchs spent a pair of seasons playing at Rhode Island before his junior year was spent out at San Francisco. That junior year with the Dons saw him put up 12.7 points and 7.8 rebounds largely as a starter, becoming a reliable post presence as an upperclassman. He does great work inside the arc and is an above average rebounder, and his experience certainly helps the depth in this frontcourt.
Forward – Dylan Faulkner (Senior)
Yet another new transfer thrown into the mix, Faulkner had two years with Lipscomb before a single year at Samford, spending all three of those years playing for head coach Lennie Acuff. He took a measured step forward with the Bulldogs, averaging 17.2 points and 8.6 rebounds while becoming one of the best frontcourt players in the Southern Conference. He’s a fantastic worker who goes hard all over the court and he’ll try to smoothly transition into a major role with the Tigers.
Key Reserves
Guard – Harris Reynolds (Freshman)
The key piece of this freshmen class, Reynolds is a 4-star shooting guard out of Atlanta who figures to play a notable role early on in this backcourt. He’s a resilient and confident shooter whose long-range and playmaking ability will thrill Clemson fans. We’ll see how he handles this transition while getting stronger and growing into a better defender.
Forward – Chase Thompson (Sophomore)
During his freshman season, Thompson played limited minutes in a bench role for the Tigers. He did appear in nearly every game even while averaging just 2.3 points and 1.1 rebounds, though there are things to like in his performance. His size and strength are both plusses and he’s capable of hitting outside shots, while a big step forward as a sophomore could be on the horizon.
Guard – Zac Foster (Sophomore)
The first of those aforementioned injury concerns, Foster was a Top 75 prospect who joined the Tigers last season but saw that debut cut short. The Atlanta native appeared in just 12 games before tearing his ACL, averaging 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game at the time. He’s not quite 100% as of yet, but if he can fully recover as the season progresses, he’ll likely be a starting guard who can both helm the offense and score in bunches.
Guard – Amare James (Freshman)
James is a 6-6 shooting guard from Marietta, Georgia who enters the fold with great potential. There’s certainly a possibility we see James a lot early in the year, especially with Foster’s injury. He’s a perimeter threat with great size and physicality who we could see playing a few different roles as he settles into his collegiate career. Expect great scoring and solid rebounding for the young guard.
Forward – Carter Welling (Senior)
After a year apiece with UC Irvine and Utah Valley, Welling became Clemson’s starting center last season. Unfortunately, the 6-11 big man from Utah also tore his ACL late in the season and won’t be ready for a few months. Regardless, he put up 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last year and will assume a major role in this frontcourt when he’s fully recovered, hopefully in time for the ACC and postseason play.
Center – Will Stevens (Freshman)
A 4-star power forward from Davidson, North Carolina, Stevens is another young player to watch for the Tigers. With those injury issues plaguing the Tigers, there’s a very real chance Stevens could step into an important role early and he seems ready for that challenge. He’s already considered a really strong defender and post presence, with the size and mobility to become a solid shot blocker.
Guard – Dillon Hunter (Senior)
He’s not current eligible and it’s hard to know if that’ll change, but getting a fifth season out of Hunter would be fantastic for the Tigers. A 6-3 guard from Atlanta, Hunter was largely a bench piece until starting last season, putting up 7.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists as a senior. The numbers might not jump out at you, but he’s a veteran with immense experience in this system and his presence would give Clemson quite the boost in the backcourt.
Schedule Outlook
Clemson’s first five games are at home to kick off the season, though that does include an interesting November 13th test against Georgetown out of the Big East. Regardless, they’ll hit the road soon after for the Maui Invitational, facing Ole Miss and then two other teams during the week of Thanksgiving, with an early shot to make some noise and compare to a few programs in a similar position.
Brownell will hope to have answers on those injuries and eligibility because December has some challenge too. It begins on the first of the month hosting Auburn in the ACC/SEC Challenge. On December 12th, the Tigers play at TCU for their first true road test but it’s certainly not their last. They play at rival South Carolina a few days later and get a shot at Cincinnati on December 19th right before Christmas.
They’re done few favors by starting ACC play against a strong Virginia team, though the Tigers don’t have to face them or Duke on the road. There’s a very winnable stretch of games throughout January, though that game against the Blue Devils on January 30th is preceded by a tough road trip at Miami. We’ll get a feel for how this lineup develops as ACC play continues, though games at SMU and Louisville are two of their final three and might be key matchups in determining placing for the ACC Tournament.
Season Outlook
Building a college basketball lineup in the NIL era is difficult enough, but Brownell and his staff have their own set of issues. We don’t know if Hunter will be eligible and it’s fair to say the odds are not in his favor. The Tigers also won’t have those two injured players who’d likely both be starters if they were healthy today.
Regardless, Clemson likes the other talent they have in the backcourt, especially with Buckner taking a bigger role and running the point. Both Certa and Lelevicius add reliable scoring and long-range shooting into the lineup while someone like Reynolds could really take on a big role even as a true freshman. We’ll likely see Foster back in the lineup some point soon and if he takes off as expected then this backcourt will be a real strength.
Not having Welling for much of the year will certainly be a downer, as he’s the top returning scorer and one of the most physical players in this lineup. Fortunately, Faulkner looks up to the challenge at the 5 after his great work last season while Fuchs is another great presence in and around the paint. We’ll also get to see what kind of step forward Thompson takes in his second season with the Tigers while Stevens is worth keeping an eye on for what he can bring in relief on the defensive end.
If Clemson gets healthy and stays afloat in a tough ACC, then this team could certainly surprise people in March with the experience, talent, and playmaking ability. Until then, a lot is going to fall on pieces like Buckner and Faulkner and we’ll learn a lot about the rest of this team with some of those tough nonconference environments. Can the Tigers build that depth early in the season and then hit their strides when Porter and Welling get back into the thick of things?
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