Clemson announced on Friday that redshirt sophomore guard A.J. Oliver intends to transfer.
The 6-foot-5 Oliver appeared in 19 games as a freshman last season as he averaged 2.1 points and 1.4 rebounds per game. Although Oliver wasn’t much of a factor on the floor for Clemson’s Sweet 16 run last season, he started to show positive signs of life towards the end of the year. Oliver collected a season-high nine points in an ACC tournament win over Boston College while also putting up six points and six rebounds during Clemson’s blowout win over Auburn in the NCAA tournament’s Round of 32.
“I’d like to thank AJ for his commitment and dedication to our program over the last couple seasons and his contributions to a great season that ended with a Sweet 16 appearance last year,” Clemson head coach Brad Brownell said in a release. “We wish him the best of luck in the future.”
The son of former Clemson women’s basketball head coach Audra Smith, Oliver’s transfer might have been influenced by Smith losing her job at the end of the 2017-18 season. Smith has landed as the new women’s head coach at South Carolina State.
A former four-star prospect, Oliver is one of this season’s first transfers to come from a major program -- as more are sure to follow. Clemson is regarded as the No. 22 team in the NBCSports.com Preseason Top 25, as they have aspirations of making it back to the NCAA tournament this season.