A few ACC basketball heads were turned on Twitter this week when word trickled out that David Skara will try to return to Clemson for the 2018-19 season. According to a report from Matt Connoly at The State, Skara plans to return for his redshirt senior season.
This runs counter to the announcement Skara made about 10 weeks ago — when he announced his decision to leave Clemson and pursue a professional career.
Skara, who hails from Croatia and transferred in after two seasons at Valparaiso, redshirted during the 2016-17. He was also suspended the first nine games of the 2017-18 season — for a violation Clemson claimed occurred at Valpo.
The process to reinstate Skara could be a bit of a challenge, too, according to another report. Regardless, let’s assume Skara is back for Clemson: How does he help this team win?
On the court
In the 2017-18, David Skara played in 26 games for the Tigers; he also started seven games after the season-ending injury to Donte Grantham.
Skara is far from a dynamo on the offensive end of the floor — 3.3 points on 48.8 percent true shooting. He averaged nearly three turnovers per 100 possessions, and dished out just 11 assists in over 500 minutes of action. According to Sports Reference, Skara was one of six ACC players to play 500 minutes, and record fewer than 15 assists and 200 minutes.
On spot-up possessions alone, Skara shot just 18.5 percent (25.9 eFG%), per Synergy Sports. That is, um, not great.
However, Skara is a big help on defense. With the help of Skara ranked seventh nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom. The 6-foot-8 forward can check multiple positions, and is a blocks/steals player. Skara averaged 1.9 blocks and 1.5 steals per 100 possessions.
These numbers can get a little wonky, but opponents shot just 27.6 percent and scored only 0.64 points per possession on man-to-man possessions defended by Skara, according to Synergy.
Teamed up with Aamir Sims, Clemson could have multiple promising defensive options at its forward positions in 2018-19. The Tigers can mix-and-match in the frontcourt with Elijah Thomas and grad transfer Javan White, too.
Read More
Better Know a Player: Does Clemson have the ACC’s next defensive star — Aamir Simms?