Clemson basketball coach Brad Brownell continues to reshape his roster for next season. His newest addition came Tuesday in 6-6 SF Naz Bohannon, a grad transfer from Youngstown State. The native of Lorain, OH, where he was the school’s all-time leading scorer, started 117 of 119 games with the Penguins. For his career he averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds per game, but last season he averaged over16 points and 8 rebounds per game.
“When I entered the portal about two weeks ago, they called me on the first day, coach (Antonio Reynolds) Dean did,” Bohannon said. “From there we kind of hit it off. I thought he was as genuine as can be, and as I got to meet coach Brownell and the rest of the staff, they were pretty much the same exact way. After that, we talked more about the playing style and the way that I would fit into the system. Seemed like a match made in heaven.”
Clemson is losing a versatile forward in Aamir Simms who developed into an All-ACC performer in his career. The Tigers see in Bohannon that same versatility and hope he can help fill the hole in the lineup from Simms’ departure.
“They can play me in a couple of different positions,” Bohannon said. “With me being as tough as I am and being a good rebounder, I can come help fill some of that void with Simms leaving and his rebounding numbers being gone. Also, I can add some new flavor to it.”
Bohannon is a work horse. He averaged 31 minutes per game in his career at Youngstown State. And he brings a workman like attitude to the court.
“Just being a junkyard dog at heart,” he said. “There’s nobody that I fear. Whatever it is what coach tells me do, whether it’s go get ten rebounds, or try go get ten assists, or go get this tough bucket, I’ll do it, no questions asked. I’ll do anything to help get to a win.”
Bohannon also had Vanderbilt, Kent State and UNC-Greensboro on his final list. And now he’ll get the chance to test his skills against some of the best talent in college basketball game in and game out in the ACC.
“I would say it’s a dream come true to play on that level,” Bohannon said. “I’m for a small city in Ohio, not too far from Cleveland, and there’s not many who have been able to get to that level or give the hope to kids in our city to get to that level. So, one, for me to be that kid to do that, that means a lot to me. And two, to get to that level and have the chance to perform and show that I can belong there is everything.”
Bohannon said he’ll arrive at Clemson the week of May 24th. He’ll have one season to play for the Tigers. He becomes the 12th member of the Clemson roster and the second take from the NCAA Transfer Portal.
