Heading into the 2026-27 college basketball season, Brad Brownell should have a good team, but can he have a great one? When it comes to his Clemson Tigers, so much hinges on the health of its star players and the depth of its rotation.
Two players could drastically change how things look. With guard Zac Foster and center Carter Welling working their way back from torn ACLs, they could give Brownell the spark he needs when the games truly matter.
Much has been made about the backcourt rotation. Either Ace Buckner or Dillon Hunter will serve as the starting point guard. However, getting a healthy Foster back would be massive, as would getting any reasonable production out of talented four-star freshman Harris Reynolds. As for the frontcourt, Welling could give this team some bite once he returns. Right now, neither is projected as a starter.
Here is who CBS Sports' Isaac Trotter has starting for Clemson this year from his ACC preview post.
- Guard: Ace Buckner or Dillon Hunter (if eligible)
- Guard: Cole Certa
- Guard/Forward: Liutauras Lelevicius
- Forward: David Fuchs
- Forward: Dylan Faulkner
Clemson may have a tough non-conference schedule, but the Tigers' bread will be buttered based on how well they perform in league play. While Clemson can put a few pelts on the wall before we get there, the runway is opening up nicely for Foster and Welling to potentially be rounding into form by the time the calendar flips over to 2027. By that time, Clemson's rotation may have gotten deeper.
Zac Foster and Carter Welling returning could get Clemson over the top
As a freshman a season ago, Foster averaged 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game for the 2025-26 Tigers. The thought is that he could serve as a primary ball-handler whenever Buckner, Hunter, or even Reynolds are not on the floor. Let's keep in mind that Hunter is currently ineligible to play one final year for Clemson because of the Georgia appellate court stay. That could change soon.
As for Welling, he averaged 10.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game during his junior year with the Tigers. The Utah native spent his first two college seasons at UC Irvine and Utah Valley, respectively. Only Arizona transfer RJ Godfrey averaged more points per game for the tournament-bound Clemson team. Welling's reinsertion into the rotation coming off his injury could be seismic.
Right now, getting these two key players back will be to the benefit of Brownell's team. He is savvy enough of a head coach to counterbalance not having both at full strength right away for the Tigers. What is so important is for Foster and Welling to be meaningful contributors for them as part of their deep rotation come ACC play. If all goes according to plan, Clemson could be a real force.
In the meantime, Brownell can look to other key players such as Buckner, Reynolds, and Cole Certa in the backcourt to get better while Foster is out, as well as Dylan Faulkner, David Fuchs, and Liutaurus Lelevicius in the frontcourt while Welling works his way back. Ultimately, Clemson is going to need to count on all these guys to have the season everybody expects them to. We must have patience.
For now, time is on the Tigers' side to get Foster and Welling as back to good as possible here soon.
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