Clemson Basketball Linked to All-Conference Forward Dylan Faulkner

Brownell looking to add frontcourt depth with mid-major transfer

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:18pm

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A cubist, geometric painting featuring sharp, overlapping planes of orange, purple, and white, conceptually representing the fragmented, multi-faceted nature of a high-intensity basketball game or match.Clemson's pursuit of a dominant frontcourt presence like Dylan Faulkner could reshape the team's identity and fortunes in the coming season.Sanford Today

Clemson basketball head coach Brad Brownell is reportedly pursuing Sanford forward Dylan Faulkner as a potential transfer addition for next season. Faulkner, a First Team All-SoCon selection in 2025-26, has already visited the Clemson campus and is considering a move to the Power Five level after spending his first two seasons at Lipscomb and his junior year at Sanford.

Why it matters

Clemson has openings in its frontcourt rotation after the departures of Nick Davidson and RJ Godfrey, as well as an injury to Carter Welling. Landing a proven scorer, rebounder, and rim protector like Faulkner would help bolster the Tigers' interior presence as they look to build on last season's success.

The details

The 6-foot-9, 215-pound Faulkner averaged 17.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game for Sanford last season, earning First Team All-SoCon and All-Defensive Team honors. He finished the year with 12 double-doubles, including a stretch of eight in a row during conference play, and had nine games of 20 points or more. Faulkner shot 56.3% from the field despite not making a three-pointer, a skillset that could potentially expand under Brownell's tutelage.

  • Faulkner visited the Clemson campus this past weekend.
  • He spent his first two seasons at Lipscomb before transferring to Sanford for the 2025-26 campaign.

The players

Brad Brownell

The head coach of the Clemson men's basketball team, who is actively recruiting Faulkner to join the Tigers' program.

Dylan Faulkner

A 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward who earned First Team All-SoCon and All-Defensive Team honors at Sanford last season, averaging 17.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game.

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What they’re saying

“Faulkner was on campus this past weekend, joining new Tiger Cole Certa as the second campus visitor to open the portal period. Now, Brownell is looking to go 2-for-2 with the players that he's hosted thus far.”

— Paul Strelow, TigerIllustrated reporter

What’s next

Brownell and the Clemson coaching staff will continue to recruit Faulkner in the coming days, hoping to secure his commitment as they look to fill their frontcourt needs for the 2026-27 season.

The takeaway

Clemson's pursuit of Dylan Faulkner highlights the program's need to bolster its interior presence following key departures and injuries. Landing the proven mid-major standout would provide a significant boost to the Tigers' frontcourt depth and scoring punch as they aim to build on their recent success.