Jaron Blossomgame Returns to Clemson

Jaron Blossomgame has made a decision on his future .The redshirt junior will return for his final season of eligibility. Despite going through the NBA Draft process Blossomgame felt that another year at Clemson would allow him to maximize his draft stock, possibly even sneaking into the first round if he develops enough.

Last week Blossomgame had said that he would only remain in the NBA Draft if he was confident of going in the first 40 picks. He saw his stock rise considerably after the NBA Combine where he made a name as the combine standout. Blossomgame's 6'10" wingspan and  8'6" reach put his name on plenty of NBA draft boards and supposedly he had several good workouts.

Several draft previews for Blossomgame seemed to think he would be an ideal 2nd round pick, the type of guy who can come off the bench and contribute. A draft preview from some New Orleans Pelicans fans seemed to really like his potential to convert his athleticism into meaningful basketball contributions.

Blossomgame's decision to return immediately makes Clemson an NCAA Tournament contender. Jaron will be the senior leader the team turns to and he is a proven scorer, rebounder, and all around player. There is a reason he was first team All-ACC after all. With him Clemson should be firmly ensconced in the upper middle of the ACC and be able to earn another NCAA Tournament berth. It will not be easy, and there are still holes in the roster, but having someone like Blossomgame helps paper over some of those cracks. His presence will also let Clemson jell early on and give role players time to get comfortable on the team. With several transfers finally eligible to play this could be Brad Brownell's best team yet.