CLEMSON — Last season, injuries mauled Clemson’s basketball team.
Through 35 games, guard Zac Foster and power forward Carter Welling each suffered season-ending ACL tears, while redshirt freshman Ace Buckner battled an uncooperative shoulder that later required surgery.
Clemson’s first major blow came in a matchup against South Carolina last December when Foster, a true freshman, landed awkwardly after a fast break layup and ripped through his right knee’s stabilizing ligament. Without the former four-star recruit equipped with track-star speed, Clemson’s pace of play slowed, and its 3-point prowess took a hit.
Now, six months out of reconstruction surgery, Foster is slowly making his way back to full speed through arduous rehabilitation.
“(Foster) is shooting, he’s jumping, he’s running in a straight line,” Clemson coach Brad Brownell said Wednesday. “He’s got a brace and is starting to do more in terms of cutting and all the things that you need to do. But he’s progressing nicely. No major setbacks, but he’s not ahead of schedule or anything like that either.”
Brownell added that he initially hoped Foster would be ready to play in Clemson’s upcoming foreign tour trip to Italy, and though it looks unlikely, the rising sophomore could be in a different position when the Tigers depart in a month.
After Foster finished in double figures five times in 12 appearances, averaging 6.9 points and 2.5 assists off the bench, the injury came as a major blow to the Atlanta native, as well as his team.
“It’s definitely been difficult, knowing I just want to compete with my teammates, but I know I’m just ready to get back sooner than later,” Foster said in March. “I learned definitely just that I can withstand adversity and I’ll be back.”
With the guard position running thin sans Foster, Buckner — standing 6-foot-3 — absorbed more ball-handling responsibilities later in the season despite dealing with an injury of his own.