Published Apr 13, 2025
Clemson lands transfer guard
Paul Strelow
Tigerillustrated.com

Clemson head coach Brad Brownell has added another key piece to the rebuilt basketball roster for next season.

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UAB transfer guard Efrem "Butta" Johnson has committed to Clemson.

Johnson (6-4, 180) visited campus Saturday, as first-reported earlier Sunday by Tigerillustrated.com.

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Johnson averaged 8.8 points per game as a junior and has one season of eligibility remaining.

The Huntsville, Ala., native makes for Clemson's fourth portal acquisition this off-season, joining Nevada forward/center Nick Davidson, Utah Valley forward/center Carter Welling and Georgia forward and former Clemson forward R.J. Godfrey.

Clemson has a track record for player development, and it hopes to help give Johnson a bump in taking his shot to another level.

He shot a career-low 36.7 percent this past season but was an 86.7 percent shooter from the free-throw line. His scoring averaged dipped from 11.2 points as a sophomore.

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Otherwise he checks boxes as an experienced guard with size and toughness.

Two years ago, Johnson scored 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting in a narrow 77-76 loss to Clemson in the Asheville Championship.

The Tigers now insert Johnson into a backcourt that includes returning starter Dillon Hunter, redshirted freshman Ace Buckner and four-star signee Zac Foster.

Johnson started 25 games as a sophomore, averaging 31 minutes per contest. Last season he played in a career-high 37 games, starting 21 and averaging 26.8 minutes.

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Johnson turns 22 in June.

Tigerillustrated.com will have further coverage on Johnson, including behind-the-scenes intel on his recruitment and of course Clemson's transfer portal pursuits in our Monday Insider.