With the conclusion of the 2021 NBA draft, Clemson basketball continues a streak that has gone on for more than a decade.
The last time Clemson basketball had a player was taken in the first round of the NBA draft – 2010 when Trevor Booker was drafted 23rd overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Tigers have not had a player drafted at all since 2017 when Jaron Blossomgame was taken by the San Antonio Spurs with the second to last pick in the draft.
This year, former Tigers forward Aamir Simms had hoped to hear his name called but entering the draft was a long shot as he was rated outside the top 100 prospects in the draft. In its current form, the NBA draft only has two rounds and 60 draft picks.
Simms did sign a rookie free agent deal with the New York Knicks immediately after the draft and will attempt to make the roster by playing well with their summer league team.
Clemson basketball has become an embarrassment to the ACC
We have made the case for more than a year that Clemson basketball coach Brad Brownell isn’t the right man for the job but since the turn of the century, no Tigers coaching staff has done a great job of recruiting, signing, and developing NBA talent.
Since Booker was drafted in the 2010 NBA first round, every ACC team has had at least one player taken in the first round of the NBA draft. Since Blossomgame was drafted late in the second round of the 2017 NBA draft, only Notre Dame and Pittsburgh have not had at least one first-round draft pick.
Notre Dame’s last first-round pick was back in 2015 when Jerian Grant was taken 19th overall and Pitt’s last first-round selection was Steven Adams in 2013. Jerian Grant is the son of former Clemson player Harvey Grant, nephew of former Tigers great Horace Grant, and brother of former Clemson basketball player, Jerai Grant.
In the history of Clemson basketball, only seven Tigers have played their entire careers in the orange and purple and gone on to be first-round selections – Tree Rollins, Larry Nance, Horace Grant, Elden Campbell, Dale Davis, Sharone Wright, and Trevor Booker.
Two other Tigers were first-round picks but left Clemson and finished their college careers elsewhere before entering the NBA draft – Harvey Grant transferred to Oklahoma and Mitchell Wiggins transferred to FSU.
Wiggins son, Andrew, was the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft.
Looking at the current Clemson basketball roster, their lack of first-round draft selections isn’t going to come to an end any time soon.