Clemson University Basketball Adds Seven New Players

News Summary

Clemson University’s men’s basketball team welcomes seven new players to the roster for the upcoming season. This includes six transfers and one freshman, aiming to enhance team depth and experience following an early exit from the NCAA tournament. Notable additions include Nick Davidson from Nevada and Carter Welling, the WAC Defensive Player of the Year from UC Irvine. Coach Brad Brownell believes these new recruits will provide the much-needed support and leadership to improve the team’s performance.

Clemson, South Carolina – Clemson University men’s basketball head coach Brad Brownell has announced the addition of seven new players to the roster for the 2025-26 season, which includes six transfers and one incoming freshman. These signings aim to bolster the team’s depth and experience as they prepare for a challenging season after an early exit from the NCAA tournament.

Details of New Additions

The roster now features:

• Nick Davidson: A transfer from Nevada, Davidson redshirted during the 2021-22 season and has played a total of 100 games during his collegiate career, starting an impressive 67 consecutively. He averaged a personal best of 15.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in his last season, along with 39 blocks, 27 steals, and 92 assists. Notably, Davidson shot 59.4% from two-point range and 37.1% from behind the three-point line, and scored over 1,000 career points.
• Carter Welling: Previously at UC Irvine and Utah Valley, Welling started all 32 games in his last season, where he earned the title of WAC Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 13.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and nearly 2.0 blocks per game.
• RJ Godfrey: Returning for a second stint at Clemson after a season at Georgia, Godfrey contributed to the team’s Elite Eight run in 2024 and averaged 6.4 points and 3.8 rebounds during his tenure at Georgia.
• Jake Wahlin: A recent transfer from Utah, Wahlin averaged 6.3 points and 4.9 rebounds while starting in 23 out of 33 games his last season.
• Efrem “Butta” Johnson: A transfer from UAB, Johnson marked his best season with an average of 11.2 points per game, including scoring 17 points against Clemson.
• Jestin Porter: Joining from Middle Tennessee State, Porter has a solid track record, scoring 1,163 points in 100 games and averaging a career-best 15 points last season.

Accompanying these transfers is incoming freshman Blake Davidson, who is Nick Davidson’s younger brother. Blake joins the team from Mater Dei High School in Mission Viejo, California.

Eligibility Overview

The eligibility of the newcomers varies:

• Jestin Porter: Graduate
• Nick Davidson: Redshirt Senior
• Efrem “Butta” Johnson: Senior
• RJ Godfrey: Senior
• Carter Welling: Junior
• Jake Wahlin: Junior

Background Context

Clemson basketball is seeking to recover from a disappointing conclusion to their last season, in which they exited the NCAA tournament earlier than anticipated. The addition of these experienced players is seen as a strategic move to enhance the team’s performance. The new recruits bring a wealth of experience from their previous programs, which is expected to provide not only depth but also leadership on the court.

In summary, the Clemson men’s basketball team is making significant changes ahead of the 2025-26 season, focusing on enhancing their roster with skilled transfers and talented newcomers, aiming to improve upon past seasons and contend more effectively in upcoming competitions.

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Additional Resources

• Clemson Wire: New Transfer Class
• Wikipedia: Clemson Tigers men’s basketball
• Greenville Online: Transfer Portal Tracker
• Encyclopedia Britannica: College Basketball
• 247 Sports: Projecting Rotation
• Google News: Clemson Basketball 2025-26
• Sports Illustrated: Familiar Face in Transfer Portal