Promising Clemson basketball guard out for season with torn ACL
One of Clemson basketball’s most dynamic players went down Tuesday night.
An MRI confirmed the worst: A torn ACL injury.
Tigers freshman guard Zac Foster suffered a knee injury after driving to the basket and landing hard on the court. Foster immediately grabbed his right knee and rolled around in pain after falling at the 12:52 mark of the first half.
He was helped off the court and tended to by team doctors before slowly shuffling to the locker room. Foster put on his hoodie and appeared emotional. Clemson brought out a pair of crutches, but Foster didn’t end up using them.
Foster didn’t return during Clemson’s 68-61 win over USC.
Clemson coach Brad Brownell addressed Foster’s status postgame and said he was “crossing his fingers” that the freshman guard’s injury wasn’t serious.
Foster underwent an MRI on Wednesday, which confirmed he torn the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. Clemson said in a news release there was no timetable for Foster’s return, meaning he’ll miss the rest of the season.
“It’s an extremely unfortunate injury for Zac and our team,” Brownell said in a news release. “Zac is a hard worker and valuable member of our backcourt. I know he will be determined in his rehab and has very bright future ahead of him here in Clemson.”
Foster (6-4, 190) joined Clemson as a four-star recruit from Atlanta and the No. 65 overall recruit in his class. He’s dazzled Tigers fans already this season with his flashy play style and feel for the game in a bench role.
Foster entered Tuesday’s game vs. USC averaging 7.4 points per game (fifth on the team). He also led the team in total assists (29) and assists per game (2.6) despite coming off the bench. Foster has averaged 20.1 minutes per game.
“He’s another important piece that brings a different element with size at the (guard) position and speed,” Brownell said of Foster, who played two minutes and was 0-2 from the field and 2-2 on free throws with an assist vs. USC his injury.
Clemson moved to 9-3 and 7-0 at home with Tuesday’s win.
Injury update on another Clemson player
Brownell also gave a postgame injury update on guard Efrem “Butta” Johnson, who took a hard fall in the first half Tuesday on a play that was reviewed for a potential flagrant foul but ultimately ruled a common foul.
Johnson played 11 minutes but only scored one point and spent significant time either stretching behind Clemson’s team bench or riding on an exercise bike.
Brownell said Johnson had injured his groin area.
“I think it was a groin,” Brownell said. “I’m sure there’s a fancier word that they said in there that I didn’t really listen to, but they think he’ll be fine in a couple days.”
Next four Clemson men’s basketball games
- Sunday: vs. Cincinnati in Greenville, 3 p.m. (ESPN)
- Dec. 31: at Syracuse, 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
- Jan. 3: at Pitt, 12 p.m. (The CW)
- Jan. 7: vs. SMU, 9 p.m. (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
This story was originally published December 16, 2025 at 10:02 PM.
