Clemson fans know the "what if" game all too well, and Asa Thomas is one of those names that always comes up. The 6-foot-7 sharpshooter arrived with big-time expectations, but instead of lighting up Littlejohn, he spent more time battling injuries than draining threes. After a season showing what he can really do just down the road, Thomas is back on the market—and Tiger Nation is watching.
Word is out from The Field of 68: Thomas plans to hit the NCAA transfer portal as soon as it opens on Tuesday, April 7. This isn’t his first rodeo, but unlike last time, he’s got momentum and numbers to back him up.
A Tough Break in the Valley
When Thomas rolled into Tiger Town as a three-star out of Lake Forest, the buzz was real. He had the shooting touch and scoring instincts that fit Brad Brownell’s system like a glove. But the injury bug didn’t waste any time.
Shoulder surgery kept Thomas on the sidelines all of 2023-24, and by the time he was ready to go for 2024-25, the Tigers’ rotation was stacked. He only got into 12 games and never really found his groove, as Clemson’s season ended in a gut-punch loss to McNeese in the first round. Wanting a real shot to show what made him a high-major recruit, Thomas took his game to Greenville.
Proving the Potential
If anyone still questioned whether Thomas could play at this level, he answered loud and clear with Furman. Healthy at last and unleashed, the 6-foot-7 guard reminded everyone why Clemson wanted him in the first place.
Thomas played in 28 games for the Paladins and started 21, putting up 11.9 points a night in over 27 minutes. He kept his sniper status, shooting 40.7 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from deep. He did more than just shoot, too—adding 3.8 boards and 1.9 assists per game.
The Next Chapter
Now Thomas is aiming to turn that breakout year into a ticket back to the big stage. With his size, shooting, and versatility, he’s going to be on a lot of coaches’ wish lists as a veteran wing who can stretch the floor.
Thomas’s Clemson story didn’t go the way anyone hoped, but Tiger fans never forget. Watching him fight through shoulder surgery and come back as a double-digit scorer is the kind of toughness we expect from anyone who wears the Paw. No matter where he ends up, he’ll always have a bit of Clemson in him—and you can bet plenty of us will be following his box scores, hoping he lights it up.