Brad Brownell, staff successfully follow blueprint in signing 5-man class

Clemson’s basketball team of the future continued to take shape on Wednesday with coach Brad Brownell’s announcement of a five-man 2012 recruiting class that includes a center, a power forward, a wing forward and a pair of guards.

When the signees enroll next fall, they will join a team comprised of two seniors (Devin Booker and Milton Jennings) and five sophomores – current first-year freshmen who are just now getting their feet wet in Brownell’s system.

Brownell said the Tigers were able to follow their recruiting blueprint in adding the five signees – two backcourt players, two post players and a wing.

Clemson’s signees include Jaron Blossomgame, a 6-foot-7 forward from Alpharetta, GA; Adonis Filer, a 6-foot-2 guard from Chicago, IL; Landry Nnoko, a 6-foot-11 center from Cameroon; Jordan Roper, a 6-foot guard from Columbia, SC; and Josh Smith, a 6-foot-8 forward from Charlotte, NC

“Our coaching staff is very excited about the competitive attitude and history of success of the players in this recruiting class,” Brownell said. “These young men come from very successful high school programs and play for some of the best coaches in their respective states. Coupled with our first recruiting class, we believe we have laid a strong foundation for the continued success of Clemson basketball.”

Despite having to react late to unexpected attrition in the loss of three players since the beginning of last season, Brownell and his staff were able to successfully attract multiple players from the top-150 pool of national prospects.

They picked up an early commitment from Blossomgame, added Roper and Smith shortly thereafter, and then made a successful late push for Nnoko and Filer.

Brownell said Wednesday that the Tigers could take a sixth player during the spring signing period, or have the option of holding their remaining scholarship for 2013.

Blossomgame is rated as the nation’s No. 74 prospect by PrepStars, No. 90 by ESPNU, and No. 119 by Rivals.com. He is a four-star prospect according to ESPNU and Rivals.

Blossomgame was a standout on the AAU circuit last summer, where he averaged a team-high 15.7 points per game for a talented Georgia Stars team at the Peach Jam. He was a second-team all-state selection at the AAAA level in 2010-11 after averaging 24.0 points and 8.8 rebounds per game for Chattahoochee High School.

“Jaron is an athletic wing with three-point range who should excel in our motion offense,” Brownell said. “He has the physical tools to compete right away on both ends of the floor, as well as rebound and make plays around the rim.”

Filer – whose brother, Steve, is a senior linebacker at Notre Dame - is rated as high as No. 117 nationally by Rivals, which ranks him 24th among point guards. Last season, he led Bishop Noll Prep Academy (IN) to a 26-1 record and state runner-up finish after averaging 16 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Filer is currently enrolled at Notre Dame Prep School in Fitchburg, MA.

“Adonis is a competitive young man who always wants to win,” Brownell said. “He is a physical guard who will be able to defend different positions and break down defenses and finish in the lane with his size and speed. He has an outgoing personality, and with that we think he will be a very good leader in our program for the future.”

Nnoko is a native of Yaounde, Cameroon, but moved to the United States and played for Montverde Academy in Florida last season as a high school junior. He is a three-star prospect according to the national recruiting services and is rated as high as the nation’s No. 19 center by ESPNU. Nnoko played AAU basketball with the Florida Rams this summer.

“Landry is a big, strong post player who has made tremendous strides in his short time playing basketball,” Brownell said. “He possesses all the physical tools necessary to be a good post player in this league. He also has a nice jump hook around the basket, and can step out to 15 feet and make a jumpshot. He has the competitive nature to defend and rebound his position.”

Roper is regarded as one of the top players in the state of South Carolina, and the nation’s No. 84 prospect according to PrepStars. Last season, he led Irmo High School to a 27-3 overall record and AAAA state championship. He averaged 20.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game. He was honored as the state’s AAAA Player-of-the-Year.

“Jordan is clearly one of the best players in South Carolina after leading his team to a state championship last season,” Brownell said. “He is an explosive guard that can really score from different areas on the court.”

Smith will add size to the Tiger frontcourt with his 6-foot-8, 250-pound frame. He averaged 10.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game last season and shot 58 percent from the field in leading Olympic High School to a 28-2 record and state sectional championship. Smith was a MEGA 7 all-conference selection and also earned MVP honors at the North Carolina/South Carolina Battle of the Classes (class of 2012).

“Josh is a strong, physical post player who will provide us with a good inside presence,” Brownell said. “Our staff loves the fact that he is the kind of guy who embraces contact. He is a very good passer with an excellent feel for the game, and can shoot the ball well out to 15 feet. He comes from a very successful program in Charlotte and his Olympic High School team should have a good chance to win the state championship this season.”