CHARLOTTE – Clemson basketball is 12 days away from their season opener against Winthrop and head coach Brad Brownell updated injuries on the roster as the Tigers’ approach the season. Clemson has their first secret scrimmage coming up, and Brownell still has some concerns with injuries that loom.

Starting with a key transfer, guard Joseph Girard III was dealing with an ankle injury but Brownell is “optimistic” that the 16.4 points per game scorer will be ready to go for the scrimmage. Forward R.J. Godfrey is back into the lineup this week as well.

After getting shots up for the first time back a couple weeks ago, transfer forward Jack Clark is a player Brownell is still working back into the fold.

“Jack Clark is still battling some issues with his surgery that he had earlier so that hasn’t quite got him cleared to be able to play full contact up and down,” Brownell said.

The Clemson coach said it’s a process of “working through it” and guard Alex Hemenway is another case as he’s battling through a hamstring injury. Brownell isn’t sure if he’ll play in the scrimmage, but he appears to be ready for the season.

With the injuries that the Tigers have sustained, Brownell gave an overall update on how it’s impacted the preseason preparation.

“We just kind of take a step forward and a step back. It’s been frustrating in the fall. We haven’t had as many guys as I would like especially when you’re trying to put a new group together but having said that, I hope we’re getting healthy at the right time and that certainly needs to be that way next week,” Brownell said.

Clemson basketball is revving up, and the Tigers open their season in Littlejohn Coliseum Nov. 6, tipping off at 7 p.m.