There's no easy way for Clemson basketball coach Brad Brownell to replace NBA-bound big man P.J. Hall, one of the top players in program history, but Brownell has begun recruiting in earnest. did.
So what does Clemson's team size look like for the 2024-25 season?
Well, this much is certain: With the recent additions of former four-star prospect Christian Reeves, who started his career at Duke, and Victor Raquin, a transfer from Cincinnati, Clemson will be an impressive prospect in 2024-2025. There is a possibility of building a front line. If nothing else, pure size.
After all, Reeves is 7 feet 1 inch tall. Raquin has 6 wins and 11 losses.
This is the first time since then that the Tigers have had two players listed on their roster who are 6-11 or taller.
It's unlikely that they are reincarnations of the Tigers' “doom duo” of the early 1990s, Elden Campbell and Dale Davis, or even Tom Wideman and Adam Allen Spak, but as coaches always say, “You'' cannot coach height. ”
It remains to be seen which one will help immediately offensively, but it certainly adds depth and could make a significant difference to his shot.
Raquin had some success in Cincinnati, starting 56 games over the past two seasons and averaging 8.5 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 55.8 percent from the field. He blocked a season-high five shots against Oklahoma last season.
Reeves is more of an unknown quantity. Reeves, the fourth 7-footer in Clemson history along with Tree Rollins, Aren Spach and Katalin Basiou, was a promising prospect coming out of Oak Hill (Va.) Academy, but he never had the chance to appear on the court with the Blue Devils. There were hardly any.
He was sidelined for much of last season due to injury and surgery, but averaged 1.6 points and 1.1 rebounds in 16 career games.
With that in mind, the most intriguing portal for Brownell this year's cycle may be guard Jaden Zachery, a transfer from ACC rival Boston College. He averaged 11.3 points and 4.2 assists on 40.5% 3-point shooting last season. That bracket included a 22-point game that helped eliminate Clemson in the second round of the ACC Tournament in March.
Apparently Brownell noticed.
When you combine this trio of freshmen with the Tigers' three-man freshman class, which is ranked No. 22 nationally by 247Sports, it's clear that Brownell is building on the team's accomplishments from last season.
That's the expected spoils as the team goes 24-12, defeats nine teams in the NCAA Tournament and advances to the Elite Eight for just the second time in program history and first in 44 years.
Given Brownell's successful track record with transfers, all three of these recent players could prove to be important contributors, but the jury is still out for now.
Additionally, forward Ian Schiefferin, who was named the ACC's Most Improved Player, and guard Chase Hunter are far more important to the Tigers' ultimate success next season. Hunter, who had a strong postseason run and was a driving force in his team's run to the Elite Eight, is still mulling over his professional options, but Brownell said Thursday he's optimistic he'll be back for another season. he said.
In the meantime, Brownell can look forward to a new contract, which will certainly include an extension and an increase from his $3 million annual salary.
Despite all the doom and gloom and negative vibes surrounding being eliminated from the NCAA Tournament and eliminated in the first round of the NIT for the 2022-23 season, Brownell is in a much different place a year later.
In fact, Brownell's future is so bright that perhaps he should invest in some shades.
Scott Keefer covers Clemson athletics for the Greenville News and USA TODAY Network.send him an email skipfer@gannett.com Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ScottKeepfer.