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Transfer Elijah Thomas gives Clemson needed depth

By Charlie Maikis

Mar 4, 2014; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Brad Brownell reacts during the first half against the Miami Hurricanes at J.C. Littlejohn Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2014; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Brad Brownell reacts during the first half against the Miami Hurricanes at J.C. Littlejohn Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports /
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The addition of Elijah Thomas gives Clemson some depth that it can use

Midseason transfer Elijah Thomas of Texas A&M will see his first action of the season on Sunday against Alabama, said Clemson coach Brad Brownell. Originally ranked 31st overall in the Class of 2015 ESPN recruiting rankings, the Lancaster, Texas big man only spent one semester in College Station, averaging 9.9 minutes per game over eight games, before deciding to make a move to the ACC.

His addition couldn’t come at a better time for the Tigers, as their season really gears up with back-to-back games against SEC foes who beat them last year in Alabama and South Carolina. Brownell has his team off to a 7-2 start this season with quality wins over Georgia and Nebraska already on the ledger, but needs strong showings in those games to have a truly impressive non-conference slate come Selection Sunday.

With several tough games plus their ACC schedule still to come, however, Clemson will need something they have lacked early in the year and something that Thomas will provide — frontcourt depth.

Behind center Side Djitte, the Tigers’ options for size in the middle quickly deteriorate. While Djitte has generally done a solid job of staying out of foul trouble and thereby extending his time on the court, he still averages 4.9 personal fouls per 40 minutes while backup center Legend Robertin checks in at an alarming 8.2.

The foul woes coupled with the fact that the seven-foot Robertin shoots a mere 33 percent from the floor have forced Brownell to play heavy minutes with forwards Jaron Blossomgame and Donte Grantham, two players more comfortable on the wing, as the only big men on the floor. Those lineups tend to have trouble defending and rebounding when opponents are able to keep their traditional bigs on the floor and pound the paint.

Having the 6’9″, 230-pound Thomas available to relieve Djitte will allow the Tigers to play more evenly with the second units of the strong teams left on their schedule. Thomas will provide Brownell with another go-to option in the post and give him more size and grit down low when Djitte hits the bench.

Oftentimes the addition of a midseason transfer helps their new teams, but when you combine Thomas’ pedigree and how well he fits the team need, you have a recipe for an immediate impact. With two of the biggest games on their non-conference schedule coming this week, coach Brad Brownell couldn’t have picked a better time for his new player to gain eligibility.