Another former Kentucky transfer contact, Nevada’s Nick Davidson, if officially off the board, committing to Clemson on Wednesday.
On3’s Joe Tipton confirmed the commitment after being informed by Davidson’s agent, KJ Smith.
Kentucky had contacted Davidson early in the portal cycle per Tipton, being one of dozens of schools to express interest in the 6-foot-10 junior.
After finishing last season averaging 15.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per night on 50% shooting, Davidson has heard from the likes of UK, North Carolina, St. John’s, Louisville, Arizona, Virginia, Purdue, USC, Xavier, Illinois and plenty more. Virginia, in particular, pushed heavily for Davidson with new Cavaliers Head Coach Ryan Odom hosting him on campus.
Alas, both Kentucky and the Cavaliers were unsuccessful in wooing Davidson, who did choose to join the ACC, just with the Clemson Tigers.
The Tigers are led by Head Coach Brad Brownell, who has been with the school since the 2010-11 season.
The program had seen varying levels of success, making the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen in 2018, but seemed to be meandering until two seasons ago when the Tigers made a push all the way to the Elite Eight, just missing out on a trip to the Final Four against Alabama.
This past season, Clemson re-emerged as a force to be reckoned with, finishing 27-7 and being one of four ACC programs to make the NCAA Tournament before being punched in the mouth by Will Wade and McNeese State in the first round. This impressive season included a win over Kentucky in early December.
With that in mind, Davidson will join a Tigers squad that will look to stay near to the top of the ACC as the conference desperately looks to rebuild its once famed status. Part of this included NC State’s poaching of the aforementioned Wade.
As for Kentucky, Pope and his staff are looking to rebuild a roster that made the Sweet Sixteen this past season before falling to Tennessee.
While much of the conversation surrounding portal season thus far is uneasy for Kentucky fans, missing out on Magoon Gwath and Donovan Dent, and another name from the contact list choosing a different power five school is sure to create further panic, reports indicated that UK and Davidson were not to be much earlier than his official commitment.
Nonetheless, one more name has come off Kentucky’s contact board, even if Pope’s staff didn’t consider Davidson near the top anyway, as Clemson picked up a notable transfer for next season.
