Stepping Up: Chauncey Wiggins’ Growth in a Key Season for Clemson
Clemson (17-4, 9-1 ACC) is surging through conference play, and junior forward Chauncey Wiggins is a big reason why. Last week, Wiggins delivered a team-high 16 points in the Tigers’ commanding 72-57 victory over Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. The 6-foot-10 forward also pulled down five rebounds and knocked down four of his six three-point attempts, exhibiting the offensive versatility that Clemson head coach Brad Brownell has been hoping to see on a consistent basis.
“He had one of his better games at Clemson,” Brownell said following the win. “Just consistency on both ends of the court.”
That consistency has been the focus for Wiggins this season. With the departures of last year’s leading scorer, PJ Hall, and second-leading scorer, Joe Girard, from Clemson’s Elite Eight squad, Brownell knew Wiggins needed to step up.
“Be a consistent performer for our team,” Brownell said in the preseason when asked about his expectations for the former Grayson High (GA) standout. “What does that look like? We have to wait and see. But he's a guy that needs to affect the stat sheet in a lot of different ways at 6-10. And the offense will take care of itself.”
So far, Wiggins has answered the call. He is averaging a career-high 9.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, both improvements from last season’s 5.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in 36 games (18 starts). His efficiency has also jumped, as he is shooting a career-best 48% from the field and 40.5% from beyond the arc.
Wiggins, a power forward at Grayson High (GA), transitioned to small forward for the Tigers in 2022. Initially weighing 200 pounds, he has since added muscle, now up to 216 pounds. Known for his smooth jump shot, Wiggins comes from a strong basketball lineage—his father, Michael Wiggins, played forward at Wichita State from 1990-93, while his mother, LaWaynta Dawson Wiggins, is enshrined in the Missouri State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Michael understands the third year is pivotal for his son.
“It’s like I told him, the junior and senior years—it’s about productivity,” he said before the season. “It’s not your freshman and sophomore years anymore where it’s all about getting better, learning the system, getting comfortable, and getting stronger. You’re a junior, it’s all about production. And if you're not producing, then [Brownell] is going to try somebody else.”
“Consistency, that’s the thing that coach talks about, and coaches want to see that out of their juniors and seniors,” Michael continued. “They need you to be consistent in your production. During his sophomore year, he showed out against Memphis. Just a great performance.”
That performance—a career-high 19 points and seven rebounds in a narrow 77-79 road loss—proved what Wiggins is capable of, but his challenge has always been sustaining that level of play. After averaging 10.9 points per game over a seven-game stretch last season, he only scored in double figures once over the final 20 games.
This season, Wiggins has shown significant improvement in maintaining his production. After a tough three-game stretch in December where he combined for just seven points—including scoreless outings against Memphis and Wake Forest—he has rebounded in a big way. Over the last eight games, he is averaging 11.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest.
Beyond the numbers, Wiggins’ versatility makes him an invaluable asset. He rotates between small forward and power forward, providing the Tigers with floor spacing, shot-making, and defensive length. Some would even call him an X-factor—especially given that Clemson remains undefeated when he scores in double figures.
“What you want to see in a player is for them to gradually get better. It just takes time,” Michael said. “I do see him getting better in every aspect.”
With Clemson in the thick of the ACC title race behind first-place Duke (18-2, 10-0), Wiggins’ progression could be the difference in how far the Tigers can go. If his recent surge is any indication, he’s not done making an impact.