Heartbreaking doesn’t even begin to describe Clemson basketball’s early exit from the NCAA Tournament as the Tigers were bounced by 12th-seeded McNeese on the first day.
Not many expected a team that had just found out it would be losing its head coach to NC State would be able to pull off the 12 vs. 5 upset the way McNeese did on Thursday afternoon, but the Cowboys showed up and dominated from start to finish — for the most part.
Clemson made it a game thanks to some late-game heroics from seniors Chase Hunter and Jaeden Zackery, making sure they gave it their all in their last games as Tigers.
But it sounds like that may not have been the case for Zackery who is looking to get an extra year of eligibility as a former JUCO player who eventually transferred to Boston College and then Clemson.
New: Clemson G Jaeden Zackery — who had a career-high 24 points last night — says the staff is “looking into” the possibility of him an extra year of eligibility as a JUCO guy. If he gets one? “I would definitely love to come back here for another year,” Zackery says
Zackery had a career year with Clemson, averaging 11.7 points per game and capped it off with a 24-point outing against McNeese on Thursday afternoon. Fans were pleased with his and Hunter’s performances against the Cowboys, but it just wasn’t enough, ending a record-breaking season just way too early.
That may not be the last we see of Zackery in a Clemson uniform, however, as he said the staff is looking into ways to get him that extra year. He also said he’d love to return.
While some guys can’t wait to get out of college and pursue a pro career somewhere, Zackery wants to finish what he started this season and return in 2025-26.
