Clemson hoops getting key piece back for one more season

Clemson forward Hunter Tyson has an extra season of eligibility remaining due to the COVID-19 year, and Tyson announced on Thursday that he is planning to use it.

Tyson revealed on social media that he will return to Clemson for the 2022-23 season. The senior is back after finishing fourth in scoring for the Tigers this past year — averaging 10 points per game.

Getting Tyson back is big for Brad Brownell’s squad as he can do a little bit of everything.

Tyson can post up defenders and score in the paint or step outside and knock down mid-range or 3-point jump shots. He’s also a solid rebounder, finishing third on the team at 5.5 rebounds per game last season.

Tyson and PJ Hall give Clemson two really good pieces to build around entering the 2022-23 season as they are not only really good players but also leaders on the team.

Tyson signed with Clemson in the class of 2018 and has seen his role increase each season since arriving on campus.

He averaged 1.6 points per game as a freshman, 5.5 as a sophomore, 7.5 as a junior and 10.0 this past season.

Tyson was hampered by a shoulder injury late last year and missed eight games before returning late in the regular season. Clemson was 2-6 in the games that he missed, before going 3-1 down the stretch after he returned.

The news of Tyson returning comes the same week as Clemson guard Nick Honor announced that he is leaving the program. Honor entered the transfer portal on Tuesday after starting 25 games for the Tigers last season.

Honor was fifth on the team in scoring last season, averaging 7.7. points per game.

Even with the loss of Honor, Clemson is slated to return three of its top four scorers from last year in Hall, Al-Amir Dawes and Tyson.