Replacing KJ

Apr 22, 2014, 5:37 PM

First of all, defensively, no one can. KJ was the most inate shot blocker I have ever seen, and their is no way that skill can be replicated. Athletically, he's a freak. No one on the current roster has his athleticism(very few do.) But we'll have 2 guys vying for his spot who are more skilled as a traditional 3 man, Austin Ajukwa and Donte Grantham.

Both Ajukwa and Grantham are shooters. Ajukwa really matured the second half of the year and became a soild contributor as a true freshman hitting some key shots and showing the ability to put the ball on the floor and drive. Defensively he's still a work in progress but this off season should really help him with that. He's option one and I'm very comfortable with him should he win the spot.

Grantham is the highest rated recruit of the Brownell era. He exploded as a prospect last summer on the AAU circuit when he moved outside after playing the post his entire HS career. A year in prep school should have him ready to play from day one. He's an excellent 3 point shooter(he hit 12 in one game this year) who has a tough streak from playing in the paint most of his life.

Both of these guys have the ability to step up and replace KJ's PPG(between them), and athletically, are ACC players. Losing KJ is a blow, but we have 2 guys who will, I believe, play well for us this year.

The rest of the team is set and deep:

PG-Hall, Roper
2G-Harrison, Devoe, Rooks
PF-Blossomgame, Djambo, Smith
C-Nnoko, Djitte

All is definitely no lost for Clemson hoops. I still think we can be an NCAA team, just not the sure thing we would have been had KJ returned. Here's hoping KJ becomes an NBA star, and the program continues to move forward

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Finishing above .500 and 6th in a league they were picked 14th in? The talent OP left, left after the first year in Stitt and Grant. Andre Young was a nice player but hardly a leading man, and Tanner Smith was a role player period. Don't even mention Milt, Bobo, and Narcisse. Booker was a 4 year underachiever, and don't blame the coach for that. Last year, with all of his players, Brownell far exceeded expectations outside the program and from most fans. This season, everyone will point to us losing KJ, ignoring the fact every team that finished ahead of us lost more. The program turned the corner last year once players who actually bought in to BB's approach were on the floor. That will only continue this year. As for OP, I was a fan, but his best team, lost in the first round, as did his others that made the dance. His style, while exciting, limited us as teams that could break a press destroyed us, and he would not shift out of it. Brownell has adjusted with each team he's put on the court. That's the mark of good coaching. It's what guys like K do. Next season, with a more experienced Nnoko and guys who can actually shoot, we'll be more inside out. And the defense, as always, will be oppresive

Replacing KJ

The world isn't coming to an end

See I think the league will be down next year

UNC will be better for losing mcadoo. lol***

lol, going to be relying on a bunch of true freshmen

Re: See I think the league will be down next year

Did you even watch this past season?

It was easy to forget this past season that Blossomgame

I'm thinking DeVoe is capable of playing the point as well

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