Clemson basketball, Brad Brownell lose first player to transfer portal
Clemson men’s basketball has lost its first player to the portal.
Tigers forward Jake Wahlin plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens, he announced Friday on social media. Wahlin (6-10, 210) played one season at Clemson after transferring in from Utah last spring.
Wahlin started 29 of 35 games for Clemson but only averaged 5.3 points per game. He lost his starting role late in the season, came off the bench in five of the Tigers’ last seven games and only scored nine total points in Clemson’s last five games.
He did provide value as a lanky defender, shooter and glue guy, though. Wahlin’s 3.9 rebounds per game were fourth most on the team, and he shot 40.3% from the field and 34% on 3-pointers on limited attempts.
Wahlin will have one year of eligibility remaining at his next school. He wrote in a post on X that he built “many deep and meaningful relationships I’ll be forever thankful for” and thanked his Clemson coaches and teammates.
“I loved every moment competing alongside my brothers and being a part of a historic season,” Wahlin wrote.
The NCAA tweaked the transfer portal window for Division I men’s basketball earlier this year. The 2026 portal window opens April 7, the day after the national championship, and will remain open for 15 days through April 21.
That 15-day window is the only time players can formally enter their name into the portal, but once in the portal players can commit to a school at any point.
Clemson finished 24-11 and 12-6 in the ACC last year. The Tigers won 20-plus games for the fourth season in a row and made a third straight NCAA Tournament for the first time ever under Brad Brownell. Clemson lost to Iowa in the first round.
Clemson basketball 2026 roster outlook
Out of eligibility (5)
- G Jestin Porter
- G Dillon Hunter
- G Butta Johnson
- F RJ Godfrey
- F Nick Davidson
Transferring out (1)
- F Jake Wahlin
Returning/incoming (10)
- G Zac Foster
- G Ace Buckner
- G Harris Reynolds (2026 signee)
- G Amare James (2026 signee)
- F Chase Thompson
- F Dallas Thomas
- F Carter Welling
- F Blake Davidson
- F/C Trent Steinour
- F/C Will Stevens (2026 signee)
This story was originally published March 27, 2026 at 11:09 AM.
