CLEMSON — Clemson just landed another intriguing transfer portal commitment in Boston College guard Jaeden Zackery.
But what Zackery said on April 21 about a possible Chase Hunter return might have been even more tantalizing. Hunter, one of the stars of Clemson's run to the Elite Eight, has declared for the NBA Draft but is maintaining his eligibility for a possible sixth season at Clemson.
"Being able to play against — not against, but playing with — a great guard like Chase Hunter is something that kind of also got me to come there, because playing next to someone like that, especially for your last year, could help a lot," Zackery told Field of 68 during a livestream of his commitment to Clemson. "You can see it in the tournament, they still have a lot of pieces that are coming back, with Ian Schieffelin, great player. The team, as well.
"Definitely benefit playing along somebody, a group of people, that have that dog mentality, how I like to play."
Zackery, a 6-foot-2 guard, averaged 10.8 points per game and shot 40.5 percent from 3-point range in three seasons with the Eagles.
Brad Brownell has crossed off two needs with Zackery, who should help mitigate the loss of Joe Girard's shooting, and Cincinnati big man Viktor Lakhin, who lessens the blow of potentially losing PJ Hall to the pro ranks.
This isn't the first time Brownell has mined the ACC, and Boston College, more specifically, for guard help. Just two years ago, the Tigers landed former College of Charleston and Boston College guard Brevin Galloway as a grad transfer.
The Eagles are led by Earl Grant, the former Clemson assistant and College of Charleston head coach.
Zackery started his career in the junior college ranks at Chipola College, where he was a third-team NJCAA All-American in 2020-21. That season didn't start his eligibility clock, though, because of the pandemic so Zackery was technically a freshman, again, when he arrived to Boston College in 2021-22.
The Wisconsin native had an immediate impact for the Eagles, starting all 33 games and hitting a startling 47.7 percent from beyond the arc. Zackery followed up his 10.4-point-per-game debut season with 10.7 as a sophomore, though his 3-point success rate dropped to 32.3 percent.
The redshirt junior steadied himself this past season, hitting 40.5 percent from deep for the Eagles on his way to producing 11.3 points and 4.2 assists per contest. He had two of his best outings against the Tigers, including an 18-point effort in a loss at Clemson and 22 points in a stunning win over an eventual Elite Eight squad in the ACC tournament.
"I know I can go out and score if I need to," Zackery told Field of 68, "but I feel like the biggest thing I see from myself, just the defensive side of it, I'm a stronger guard, I'm physical. I like to play that way."
Zackery brings Clemson a guard who has started 100 games over the past three seasons. It's much-needed experience considering Girard's exit and the potential losses of Hunter and Hall.
But it appears, from Zackery's comments, he expects Hunter to be back next season after he goes through the NBA Draft process. Hunter's brother, Dillon, is slated to return for his junior season.
Meanwhile, former Air Force guard Jake Heidbreder, who redshirted 2023-24, is expected to suit up as a redshirt junior in 2024-25. He helps fortify the Tigers' guard rotation along with a couple of freshmen, Ace Buckner and Del Jones.
Two transfer additions bring Clemson's scholarship count to 10. The 11th slot could be for Chase Hunter or his replacement, while another center and forward — to offset RJ Godfrey's transfer — could be useful additions.
Zackery's transfer will mark the second offseason in a row where Clemson has essentially "traded" with an ACC foe in the transfer portal. Last year, the Tigers lost Ben Middlebrooks to N.C. State but brought in former N.C. State wing Jack Clark via the portal. Earlier this month, Clemson guard Josh Beadle opted to transfer to Boston College.
