Terrell McIntyre Will Bring a Spark to Clemson Basketball
By Eddie Becker
If I could, allow me to steal a minute or two of your attention away from the preseason football excitement. There’s an important development with Clemson basketball that needs to be discussed.
Former Clemson great Terrell McIntyre has joined Brad Brownell’s staff. You remember T-Mac, right? The 5-foot 9-inch spark plug that excelled on both ends of the court in the late 1990s?
McIntyre joins the Clemson basketball staff as the director of player development. He’ll help in recruiting, but his main role will be that of a mentor for players as they adjust to life as a college student-athlete. For a lot of schools, hiring someone for a player development role doesn’t make much of a splash in the news cycle. The hiring of a Tiger legend, however, could mean all the difference for Brad Brownell.
Tasting Success
For starters, McIntyre brings a deep knowledge of winning to the staff, something this current Clemson basketball program knows little about, making only one NCAA tournament appearance in Brownell’s seven seasons. While at Clemson in the late 90s, McIntyre played in three NCAA tournaments, making the Sweet 16 in 1997, and guiding Clemson to the NIT Final in 1999. He was a clutch shotmaker as well.
In his professional career, McIntyre experienced his most success in Italy. While playing for several teams across Europe, McIntyre’s longest stint was with Montepaschi Siena. It was there he became a two-time Italian League MVP and guided Siena to 4 Italian League championships. His jersey became one of only three to be retired by Siena.
Well-versed in team accomplishments, McIntyre didn’t go without his own individual accolades. He ranks second in Clemson history in scoring and three-pointers, third in assists, and fourth in steals. His recognition as a three-time All-ACC player garnered him a spot in the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. As a dynamic point guard, McIntyre moved the the offense well. He was a clutch shooter and a pesky defender.
How He’ll Fit with Clemson Basketball
Beyond trophies and impressive statistics (McIntyre averaged 13 PPG in his Italian league career. He also shot near 40% from three. McIntyre will bring a sense of stability and tradition to a program sorely lacking in both. With his vast back court knowledge, McIntyre can help mold Shelton Mitchell and Marcquise Reed into a dynamic duo among ACC guards. Mitchell assisted on a fourth of all Tigers’ points while on the floor. Reed can knock down threes and does well especially off of the pick-and-roll. As a team lacking identity, Terrell McIntyre will help instill confidence in these young back court players.
With the dismissal of assistant Mike Winiecki, Brownell made it evident that larger changes needed to be made to get Clemson basketball on the right track. Losing Jaron Blossomgame hurts, but the arrival of some transfers and a quality recruiting class headlined by four-star Aamir Sims bring some hope to the squad. But don’t overlook the addition of an all-time Clemson hardwood great.
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McIntyre expressed a desire to teach the game to young people upon his retirement from the Italian League, and this new role with the Tigers will pave the way for that. For now, he’ll take on the burden of developing players in the big picture, a role fit even for the shoulders of a 5-foot 9-inch Clemson giant.