“Clemson Basketball Rebuilds Frontcourt Through Transfer Portal: What’s Next for the Tigers?”

Clemson basketball coach Brad Brownell is working his transfer portal magic again. Brownell has added three transfer forwards this cycle — Nick Davidson (Nevada), Carter Welling (Utah Valley) and RJ Godfrey (Georgia) — after his 2024-25 roster lost nine players to expiring eligibility or the portal.

Five of those losses were in Clemson’s frontcourt, including centers Viktor Lakhin (starter) and Christian Reeves, and forwards Ian Schieffelin (starter), Chauncey Wiggins (starter) and Myles Foster. They accounted for 46.7% of the scoring and 61.3% of the rebounding production.

Clemson’s latest portal additions can help fill these voids. The 6-foot-10 Davidson averaged 15.8 points and 6.5 rebounds as a junior to earn second-team All-Mountain West honors. Most of his scoring comes from the paint and midrange, but he has the ability to stretch the floor, shooting a career-high 37.1% from 3-point range this season.

The 6-10 Welling averaged 13.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks as a sophomore to earn Western Athletic Conference defensive player of the year and was named second-team all-conference. He is an athletic player who adores solo and alley-oop dunks and is a capable passer who can execute Clemson’s high-low offense. He is also an effective 3-point shooter (35.3% in 2024-25) and will immediately boost the team’s interior defense.

The 6-8 Godfrey played at Clemson for two seasons before transferring to Georgia, where he averaged career highs of 6.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and one assist as a junior. He isn’t a 3-point shooter though, going 0-for-11 from 3 with the Bulldogs, but his athleticism and lateral quickness allow him to guard forwards.

Clemson could add a true center to provide a paint presence like Lakhin, but these portal additions will allow Brownell to have flexible frontcourt options. All are experienced players who can contribute immediately, while redshirt freshmen forward Dallas Thomas and freshman forwards Chase Thompson and Trent Steinour provide depth.

Clemson basketball remaining transfer portal needs

Clemson has four scholarship roster spots left, with the current limit at 13. It will expand to 15 if the pending House settlement passes this month.

The next item on Brownell’s to-do list is to add two or three guards to place alongside or back up Dillon Hunter, redshirt freshman Ace Buckner and freshman Zac Foster.

The Tigers will lose nearly 90% of their average of 76.1 points a game with the losses of Schieffelin, Lakhin and guards Chase Hunter, Jaeden Zackery, Del Jones and Jake Heidbreder. As a result, shot-creating and set-shot making guards are a premium.

Clemson has reportedly been in contact with multiple guards, including Washington’s Mekhi Mason, Wofford’s Justin Bailey and San Jose State’s Will McClendon.

Mason, who has one year of eligibility remaining, averaged 9.9 points in his junior season, shooting 42.5% from the field and 40.2% from 3-point range. He is a cutter who can score at the rim through contact and can knock down set 3’s.

Bailey, who has one year of eligibility left, averaged 9.6 points and 1.2 steals. He shot a career-high 45.6% from 3-point range in 2024-25 and has attempted more than 120 3-pointers in his first three seasons to make at least 50 of them. He is from Taylors, South Carolina, and played two seasons at USC Upstate before joining Wofford.

McClendon, who also has one year of eligibility remaining, averaged a career-high 12 points in his junior season with San Jose State. He is a crafty finisher at the rim and has the ability to generate his own shot. He shot 34.9% from 3-point range, which isn’t ideal, but could improve that number in Brownell’s system.