Following key departures that had the Clemson Basketball fans in a panic, head coach Brad Brownell has yet again proven why he’s been able to lead this team to back-to-back March Madness appearances and the best regular season in program history.
Over 2,500 players entered the transfer portal during this cycle, and Brownell has been able to capitalize on that by rebuilding his team through the portal.
With that being said, Second-team All-CUSA and Middle Tennessee State transfer Jestin Porter has committed to Clemson Basketball with one year of eligibility remaining — this leaves two more scholarship spots to round out the squad.
Jestin Porter was a senior this past season, so that you may be asking: How does he still have eligibility left? Well, he played two seasons at Tyler Junior College, the same school where Jimmy Butler started his collegiate career.
He burst on the scene as one of the best players in Junior College, averaging 21.4 points — dominating as a freshman.
The 6-foot-1 guard followed up with a sophomore campaign that saw him extend his efficiency, shooting 40% from three on over 100 attempts while recording 17 points per game.
After going berserk for two years at Tyler, Porter chose to commit to Middle Tennessee State and left a long-lasting legacy at the program over the next three years.
While he didn’t play much his first year, starting in just five games and averaging 15 minutes, he would trust the process and develop his overall skill set.
In the 2023-2024 season, Porter would start all 33 games while putting up 14 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal per game, showcasing his defensive skill as a more undersized guard.
The versatile scorer would post multiple 20+ point games, but his most notable game came in an overtime win against UTEP. Porter recorded a career-high 41 points, seven rebounds, and three assists on a highly efficient 11-for-16 from the field and 8-for-8 from three-point range.
This past season, we saw him sharpen his efficiency on a higher volume, recording a career-high 15 points while shooting 36% from three on nearly seven attempts per game.
This past January, Porter earned CUSA Player of the Week after leading his team to a four-game win streak and tacked on an average of 25 points on 51/53/94 shooting splits in the span.
Unfortunately, they would fall short at a March Madness appearance but still boasted a 22-12 overall record, finishing second in CUSA behind Liberty.
He finished his MTSU career as the 35th 1000-point scorer in program history and just the 16th to reach the mark in three years or less.
Jestin Porter isn’t just any name in the 2025 transfer portal — he’s a dynamic scoring guard with explosive athleticism and a proven ability to create his shot, whether off-ball or on-ball. He can bring immediate offensive fire-power and efficiency that could be a game-changer for Clemson next season.
