Happy Birthday to Jaron Blossomgame.

Clemson basketball player Jaron Blossomgame turns 23 today. The fifth year senior from Alpharetta, Ga graduated recently and will begin his final basketball season as a Tiger soon.

Let’s take a brief look at Jaron Blossomgame‘s career and highlights from his busy summer.

Blossomgame redshirted the entire 2012-13 season because of a leg injury(compound fracture).

In 2014, he averaged 4.9 points and 5.0 rebounds a game before Clemson’s NIT Final Four run. His post season was shortened because of complications with the previous 2012 injury. Watch highlights from his 14 point, 14 rebound performance against 13th rank Duke.

As a sophomore, his game really started to flourish. Blossomgame scored 13.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while also improving his three point(20 to 28) and free throw percentages(59 to 70).

Last season, he effloresced into an All-ACC performer by leading the Tigers in scoring(18.7), rebounding(6.7), and three point percentage(44).

Blossomgame considered jumping to the NBA and participated in the NBA combine camp, but ultimately he decided to come back to Clemson.

He also competed in the Nike Skills Academy and the Adidas Nations camps. His play didn’t go unnoticed either, because he impressed onlookers at each stop. In fact, he was impressive enough for NBA scouts to call him a budding star with a bright future in the pros. Check out the buzz on Blossomgame from each camp.

From CBSSPORTS.COM(NBA combine)

"The 6-7 forward showed off superb athleticism and solid size in athletic testing, then played well in the 5-on-5. On Friday, he showed off the improved shooting by knocking down three early 3-pointers and applied athleticism he showed in testing."

From Si.com(Nike Skills Academy)

"There wasn’t a clear MVP among the college players, as different guys looked great on different days, and a number of players didn’t compete in all six sessions of drills and scrimmages. But my All-Academy first team would be: Morris, Brunson, Peters, Clemson’s Jaron Blossomgame and Baylor’s Johnathan Motley, with Oregon’s Chris Boucher and Illinois’ Malcolm Hill as honorable mentions. (USC’s Bennie Boatwright sat out the whole camp, while Iowa’s Peter Jok, Oregon’s Tyler Dorsey, Arizona’s Allonzo Trier, Oklahoma State’s Jawun Evans and Xavier’s Trevon Bluiett sat out portions of it with non-serious injuries.)Blossomgame is probably the best college wing you haven’t seen much of on TV, as he has yet to play on an NCAA tournament team in his three years at Clemson, but he offers a 6’7″ package of athleticism, physicality and accurate long-range shooting (albeit with a low release point and rain-making arc). One NBA front-office member told me that Blossomgame “looked like the most NBA-ready player at the camp,” and another scout said he thinks Blossomgame could be the first senior taken in the 2017 draft. The asterisk on that comment is that it’s an exceptionally weak draft for seniors, but Blossomgame could sneak into the back end of the first round."

From nbadraft.net(Nike Skills Academy)

"Jaron Blossomgame 6’7.5, 218 lbs, 6’9.5 wingspan, SF, Clemson — There were rumors circling at Nike that the Clippers promised to take Blossomgame at 25 in the 2016 draft but he decided to return to school anyway. Surprising if true. Blossomgame had his share of wow plays as he quickly established himself as the freakiest dunker and athlete at the event. He had a dunk over Miles Bridges on day one that likely made Bridges want to thank Jordan Crawford (who famously dunked on LeBron) for, years ago, causing Nike to ban all recording devices at the event. Blossomgame also showed the ability to knock down shots. But scouts came away criticizing his inability to do much outside of the dunks and spot up shooting. His lack of ability to create shots off the dribble or pass the ball was evident and real areas for him to focus on in his senior year. Regardless, Blossomgame figures to be the top senior prospect entering the season, and will have a shot to be a first rounder."

At Adidas Nations, he was listed as one of the top players by DRAFTEXPRESS. In this interview, he explains why he decided to skip the draft and below is a snippet of what DRAFTEXPRESS wrote about Blossomgame.

"Blossomgame looks the part of a NBA combo forward, as at 6’7, 214 with a strong frame and excellent athletic ability, he won’t have any issues holding his own physically. He plays with a great motor, and knows how to utilize his physical tools, flying in on the offensive glass, running the floor hard in transition, cutting actively off the ball, and bullying his way to the rim out of the post. He shot the ball very well from deep last season, hitting 44% on 3.3 attempts per game, but he has a bit of a low release and shoots it from his chest, something he may need to adjust down the line. He can handle it in a pinch, and is capable on aggressive straight line drives to the rim, but could definitely benefit from a more advanced handle, as he looks to make the transition to more of a small forward at the NBA level. He has not really shown yet that he is a playmaker for others, and can force some passes on drives to the rim."

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It doesn’t matter what other synonyms are used to describe his game or his potential. Nothing fits him better than “Blossomgame.” Happy Birthday from Rubbing the Rock and all the Clemson fans who are happier, because you returned for one more year.