CLEMSON — Clemson basketball is led by two stalwarts in Chase Hunter and Ian Schieffelin.
Hunter and Schieffelin helped the Tigers make the Elite Eight last season. Now, they are leading Clemson in hopes of making back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances for the first time under coach Brad Brownell. There’s optimism this feat can be achieved because both have the potential to be selected in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Hunter and Schieffelin both made preseason second-team All-ACC this season and are having career seasons. Under Brownell, Clemson has had only three players taken in the NBA draft: K.J. McDaniels (2014), Jaron Blossomgame (2017) and Hunter Tyson (2023). Can Hunter or Schieffelin be next?
“I definitely see them as NBA draft prospects,” NBA Big Board‘s director of scouting, Rafael Barlowe, told The Greenville News. “Will they be drafted? I’m not sure.”
Chase Hunter’s NBA draft stock
Hunter tested the NBA draft process in the offseason after averaging 17.8 points, 5.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and two steals over four games in March Madness but returned for his sixth season. He said he worked out with the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets in the offseason and received feedback on improving his 3-point shooting, rebounding and defense.
Hunter’s 3-point shooting has been a concern throughout his career, hanging around 31.6% on around three attempts per game. He has elevated his play this season, averaging 16.8 points per game and shooting 48.1% from the field, 42.1% from 3-point range and 86% from the free-throw line — all career bests.
Hunter is the No. 1 scoring option for Clemson and has embraced the role in clutch situations, making timely shots to keep the Tigers afloat in games
“Throughout his time at Clemson, there would be games where he shows up, and then there will be games where he kind of drops off and is behind the scenes, if you will,” ACC Network basketball analyst Joel Berry III told The Greenville News. “Now, it just seems like he’s taking that next step and being consistent with knowing how much the team needs him.”
Barlowe said Hunter, 6-foot-4, has tweener height for the NBA, meaning he could fit at point guard or shooting guard. At point guard, Hunter’s height would work but would be viewed as undersized at shooting guard. Still, if he can remain consistent in his 3-point shooting, he will be a prospect NBA teams would consider.
“He has the ability to be able to do that because of his talent and his abilities,” Berry said. “You hate to say it, but he’s not at a Carolina, Duke or Kansas. He’s at Clemson, so a lot of the times what he’s doing kind of goes unnoticed, but I can see him going in and being able to open up a lot of eyes in the draft.”
Ian Schieffelin’s NBA draft stock
Schieffelin broke out last season, averaging 10.1 points and 9.4 rebounds to win the ACC’s most improved player award. He continued his ascent in his fourth season, averaging 13.8 points, 11.6 rebounds (fourth in the nation) and 3.1 assists — all career-highs.
With 2023-24 first-team All-ACC selection PJ Hall in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets, Schieffelin, 6-8, has emerged as Clemson’s top big. He has improved his passing and is a tenacious rebounder, logging a career-high 20 rebounds vs. No. 4 Kentucky. His energy and hustle makes him one of the best rebounders Brownell has ever coached.
“He has a willingness to sustain effort and consistently go after the ball, which most guys give in after a while and don’t,” Brownell said.
For Schieffelin to climb NBA draft boards, he must improve his 3-point shooting. He is shooting a 31.7%, slightly better than his career low of 31.3% in 2021-2022, on three attempts per game. Barlowe sees him as a stretch forward, but he has to consistently make 3-pointers to fill this role.
“I felt like last year when he shot like 47% from three, he kind of fit the mode of your stretch-4 in a sense,” Barlowe said. “Now, he’s down to (31%) this year, after 33% as a sophomore and 31% (as a freshman). So for him, he’s got to get the 3-point percentage up.
“But, if he can have a defined, secondary role, in a sense, to where he’s a rebounder, connective passive that can also knock down shots. I think that helps him out a lot.”
Where Chase Hunter, Ian Schieffelin sit on NBA draft big boards
ESPN has Schieffelin ranked No. 98 in its latest NBA draft top 100 prospects. The NBA Draft Room places him No. 130 in its list. Other lists do not feature Hunter and Schieffelin.
Still, there are a full slate of games left for Hunter and Schieffelin to improve their stocks. Clemson faced Kentucky, No. 22 Memphis and South Carolina and will battle prominent ACC teams with notable players, including Pitt, No. 5 Duke, North Carolina. If the Tigers make March Madness, another strong run with impressive performances from both can elevate their profiles too.
There are only 60 spots available for this year’s NBA draft. That number makes it one of the most difficult professional sports league to make a roster. If Hunter and Schieffelin go undrafted, they can sign two-way contracts with teams or summer league deals to compete in the NBA’s summer league circuit.
“I do think that there are some teams that may be looking for a rookie that is a little bit more seasoned,” Barlowe said. “They fit the description as far as just having enough college games under their belt. But to me, at the end of the day, it’s all going to boil down to do NBA teams see both guys having a skill set that they can hang their hat on or skill set that they know the guys bring to the table that they can count on every night in NBA games.”
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
