Brad Brownell, Joe Girard make pitch to future transfers considering Clemson

Clemson just finished an extraordinary season by program standards, making their first Elite 8 in over 40 years and just their second overall.

After their loss to Alabama just one step away from the Final Four, head coach Brad Brownell and senior guard Joe Girard used the postgame press conference as a platform to let folks know what Clemson hoops is all about and explain why other transfers like Girard should come play for the Tigers.

Here was Girard answering on whether other transfers this cycle should choose Clemson:

“Do it. For me, this place has been unbelievable. And it all goes back to the culture, really, and that’s what was attractive to me. The people at Clemson are great. I think I said that, like, the first week I got there. There was cookies at my apartment day from some random person that I still don’t know who it was to this day,” Girard said.

“So Clemson is just an unbelievable place. There’s unbelievable people. They obviously developed their players and they win a lot of basketball games. Anyone looking forward to living in a great place, playing with great people, playing for great people, and doing great things should go to Clemson.”

Brownell followed up and was right on the same page as Girard, noting the authenticity of the Clemson program.

“My pitch would be what Joe just said. But I think it’s coming better coming from a player,” Brownell said. “There’s a lot of great salesmen in our business, a lot of guys that sell a lot of things that don’t end up being what they really are. I’m proud to say that what we talk about at Clemson is real. And Joe Girard got to experience that. We just have tremendous people.”

Brad Brownell just shares such an affinity for Clemson from the top all the way dwon, which is why he’s been around well over a decade.

“We have great leadership. We have great administrative leadership. We have unbelievable athletic support. We have tremendous coaches,” Brownell said. “It’s an unbelievable place to live. That’s why I’ve been here so long. My girls went to school here.”

Plus, over the last six years or so, Clemson now has a decent little track record of success to point to.

“Since we got our facility renovated in 2017-18 we’ve been to a Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, another NCAA Tournament. Got a couple of guys in the NBA,” commented Brownell.

But the Tigers won’t go taking every half-decent player in the portal. As with this season, Brownell knows he’s got to be selective when it comes to the type of kids he brings in. According to him, Joe Girard is a shining example of exactly the type of guy they’d like to bring in each year.

“Now, that guy was unbelievable to have. His swagger is why we went and got him. His second-half shooting is the reason we got him. But the real reason is the kind of kid he is. He just showed who he is right here,” Brownell said.

“In one of the toughest moments in his life, he is explaining in detail how much this place meant to him. He’s about the right stuff. That’s why he fit our team. And that genuineness is the reason why (we) wanted him to be part of the program.”

With Girard, Chase Hunter and PJ Hall all departing after leading Clemson this season, Brad Brownell must be on the lookout for the next Girard, or perhaps, a couple of them.