Clemson guards make decision on their futures

Clemson guard Alex Hemenway told Clemson Sports Friday night that he is planning to return to school for an additional season.

The 6-foot-4 senior is currently in his fourth season with the Tigers. However, he has an additional COVID-19 year that he can use.

The plan is for the Indiana native to utilize his extra year.

“I love it here. I love the coaching staff, I love everybody. So it was a pretty easy decision for me,” Hemenway said following Clemson’s loss to Virginia in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament.

Hemenway is currently fifth on the Clemson team in scoring, averaging 6.9 points per game. He leads the Tigers in 3-point shooting at 47.1 percent.

Tigers coach Brad Brownell announced earlier this week that Hemenway is out after undergoing emergency appendectomy surgery. Hemenway detailed what happened Friday night.

“Sunday I went in for treatment. I got back and thought I had a stomach ache. … Took some tums and it calmed down. I went to bed later that night and ended up waking up at 2 a.m. with pain in my right side — hard to breath, hard to walk,” Hemenway said.

“Went to the ER, got it checked out. It ended up being an inflamed appendix. I had to hurry up and get that out of me so it didn’t rupture and cause any further damage.”

Hemenway had surgery Monday morning, and doctors told him that it will be two to three weeks before he can do any kind of physical activity.

“I’m not sure if that can get cut down that much,” Hemenway said. “From what I hear, normal protocol is about two to three weeks. No physical activity and let it heal fully.”

It has been a tough year for Hemenway, who also missed six weeks earlier this season with a foot injury.

“From an individual standpoint it’s been just trying to get past each injury. I started pretty healthy and then obstacles just kept coming my way,” Hemenway said.

“I’m not really one to make excuses — I just try to keep getting past it and keep working hard to try to do what I can for this team.”

Clemson G Chase Hunter addresses future

In addition to Hemenway, point guard Chase Hunter also spoke about his future Friday night.

Hunter is only a junior but has been at Clemson for four years. He said earlier this week that he was unsure about what his plan was for next season, but he clarified those comments on Friday.

“I know I said that but I’m definitely coming back to play college basketball,” Hunter said. “I love this team, I love this school.”