Clemson adds Russian big man; Chase Hunter leaves door open for return (2024)

CLEMSON— Clemson appears to have found its next big man.

Meanwhile, the Tigers might have a familiar face at point guard next season.

Cincinnati transferViktor Lakhin, a 6-foot-11, 240-pound Russian, announced his commitment to Clemson in the early morning hours of April 17.

Later in the day, point guard Chase Hunter announced he is declaring for the NBA Draft but will maintain his eligibility, leaving the door open for a sixth college season with the Tigers.

These are important moments in Clemson's offseason as coach Brad Brownell tries to build momentum after a run to the Elite Eight in March. The Tigers are likely to lose All-ACC center PJ Hall to the professional ranks this offseason, and the roster only had five players slated to return next season after rising junior forward RJ Godfreyentered the transfer portal last week.

Lakhin, a rising redshirt senior,adds size alongside a 6-8 forward,Ian Schieffelin, who is heading into his senior season. Clemson returns a 6-10 wing in rising juniorChauncey Wiggins, along with rising junior guards Dillon Hunter and Jake Heidbreder and rising redshirt freshman wing Asa Thomas.

The Tigers also add a trio of freshmen to the mix next season, including 6-9 forward Dallas Thomas and guards Del Jones and Ace Buckner. But there is still plenty of work to be done to reach men's basketball's 13-scholarship limit.

Hall has yet to announce his intentions for next season, but Hunter was one of the stars of Clemson's NCAA tournament run. The fifth-year senior can play a sixth season, if he wants, because athletes received an additional year of eligibility following the pandemic-affected season of 2020-21.

"There's no question, he needs to put his name in the draft and go through the process and see what kind of feedback he gets," Brownell said in an April 4 appearance on Road Rage with Walt Deptula. "I do think there's a chance he comes back, because we do have NIL (name, image, and likeness money), and this is a great place.

"If you're not going to get drafted, you don't necessarily have to go do that."

Regardless of whether Hunter returns, the Tigers have addressed their front court with Lakhin. The native of Anapa, Russia, started 56 of 62 games played for Cincinnati over the last two seasons.

Lakhin averaged 9.2 points and 6 rebounds last season, but he had his best year statistically as a redshirt sophom*ore, producing 11.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. He hit 61.7 percent of his shots that year.

As a redshirt junior, Lakhin began to expand his range beyond the 3-point line, but he was just 14-of-55 from distance. He is very much an interior presence, especially considering his 55.8-percent success rate from the free throw line.

The other question will be whether Lakhin can stay healthy. He missed his true freshman season with an injury, and he battled through ailments as a redshirt freshman, as well. Lakhin suffered an ankle injury last season, which kept him out of the Big 12 quarterfinals, but he started 24 out of 29 games.