Clemson basketball must be prepared to pay millions for top transfers, per reports

This is some big money for a rental.
Mar 14, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Brad Brownell reacts in the first half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Mar 14, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Brad Brownell reacts in the first half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The transfer portal era has been wild so far, and it doesn't feel like it's going to settle down any time soon, ensuring that Clemson basketball will need to play the game to be successful.

It's only been around for a handful of years and NIL has really changed how it's run.

In fact, some of the best transfers in the country a year ago were making well over $1 million and that number looks to be on the rise this season, according to Jeff Goodman.

The college hoops insider says that the top transfers on the market are going to be getting around $2.5 to $3 million this offseason which means the numbers just keep going up.

Imagine paying $3 million for a single player, having them come in for one season, and then they either transfer next year or head to the NBA. That's the new reality that Brad Brownell and Clemson need to be prepared for.

If Clemson is going to get back to the top of the ACC and compete once again next year, it'll have to be prepared to spend a pretty penny on some top recruits. If these are the numbers for the top guys, I'd imagine that the B-tier transfers or even the B+/A- guys are going to be somewhere in the $1-2 million range.

And even if you spend this kind of money, you're not even guaranteed to compete. Just look at Great Osobor with Washington this past offseason. He was the highest-paid transfer in the Big Ten and his Huskies didn't even make the conference tournament, finishing last in the league.

Clemson has to pay up if it wants to compete next year with five open roster spots.