High-scoring ACC guard becomes first transfer commit for Clemson basketball
Clemson basketball has landed its first transfer portal commitment of 2026, and he’s a high-scoring guard who projects to help the Tigers immediately.
Former Notre Dame guard Cole Certa announced a commitment to Clemson and Brad Brownell on Sunday via social media.
Certa visited Clemson over the weekend and was also reportedly considering Louisville, Marquette and DePaul, per Rivals’ Jamie Shaw.
Certa was among the ACC’s most improved players this season and averaged 12.8 points per game for the Fighting Irish. Certa (6-5, 205) started 16 of 31 games for Notre Dame as a sophomore and shot 36.7% on 3-pointers.
He also finished fifth in ACC Most Improved Player voting after averaging 16.1 points per game in league play. Certa ended the year on a hot streak, scoring in double figures nine games in a row.
He had five games of 20-plus points and three games of 30-plus points in 2025-26, including a career high 37 points against Georgia Tech in February.
A native of Le Roy, Illinois, Certa was a consensus four-star recruit and top 150 prospect coming out of high school. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
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.
Certa will add much-needed scoring ability on the wing for Clemson, which was hurt this past season by a lack of true shot creators.
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
Transferring in (1)
- G Cole Certa, Notre Dame
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 April 12, 2026 at 4:01 PM.
