ACC TEAM PREVIEW #3 CLEMSON TIGERS

After back-to-back tournament appearances for Clemson, it's going to be a very different look this year for head coach Brad Brownell. Chase Hunter and Ian Schieffelin, who were both essential pieces for Clemson the last two seasons, have graduated. Both were all-conference players last year. Hunter averaged 16.5 PPG, and Schieffelin nearly averaged a double-double with 12.4 PPG and 9.6 RPG. They did what they could to reload in the portal, but that kind of production will be tough to replace.

Projected Lineup:

G Jestin Porter (Middle Tennessee State transfer)

G Dillon Hunter

F RJ Godfrey (Georgia transfer)

F Nick Davidson (Nevada transfer)

F Carter Welling (Utah Valley transfer)

Middle Tennessee State transfer Jestin Porter is the replacement for Chase Hunter. The highly coveted transfer comes to Clemson after making back-to-back All-Conference USA teams last season. Perhaps the best transfer Clemson landed in the portal cycle is Nevada transfer Nick Davidson. He was one of the best players in the Mountain West last season, averaging 15.8 points and 6.5 rebounds. RJ Godfrey is back with the team after spending last season with Georgia. He was a key part of the team's success in 2023-24 when they reached the elite eight. He'll have a big role this upcoming season. Four-star recruit Zac Foster should also have a big role in the rotation as a true freshman.

One thing this Clemson team will have is size. They also brought in Utah Valley State transfer Carter Welling to play the five. He stands at 6 feet 11 and averaged almost two blocks a contest last season. With Welling, Davidson, and Godfrey, Clemson should have some serious size in their starting lineup. Scoring-wise, I have my doubts. Porter and Davidson are gonna be the top scoring options, and they're both coming in from mid-major schools. Brad Brownell is an excellent head coach, but I feel he needed to do better in the portal after losing so much production from last season.

Prediction: 11th in ACC