CLEMSON – R.J. Godfrey leads Clemson in a metric that will never show up on any stat sheet, but certainly does not go unnoticed. The senior forward always wins the race into the practice gym.

That is right, the practice gym.

After the Tigers’ 74-70 win over the SMU Mustangs Wednesday at Littlejohn Coliseum, head coach Brad Brownell explained his veteran’s tendency to run out of the film room, and how it encapsulates more than just a love for jogging.

“(Godfrey) is just such a positive personality every day in practice,” Brownell said. “It’s funny because the back hallway here, we kind of leave film and come to practice and most days he’s running, like he’s jogging into practice instead of walking like everybody else. And I just think he brings that energy to the games and he plays the same way.”

Physically leading the way into practice is not the only way that Godfrey has piloted his team this season. The Suwanee, Ga., native leads Clemson (13-3, 3-0 ACC) in points per game (12), field goal percentage (66.4 percent), and blocks per game (0.7).

Godfrey has embraced being in front of the pack.

In the win over SMU, (12-3, 1-1 ACC) the senior jogged out ahead to a team-high 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting, including his first three-pointer since a Sweet 16 matchup against Arizona in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Godfrey’s triple gave the Tigers a 53-40 lead, the largest of the game at the time, with 12:37 to play in the second period. It marked Clemson’s fourth three-pointer in the half.

“I was glad to see him make that three because we work on it with him all the time,” Brownell said. “He shoots every day. He’s not a guy that’s going to make a lot of them, but he certainly can make them and that was good for him. But he’s a warrior. He just plays so hard and tries and wants to win for everybody.” 

Despite being 0-of-4 from three-point land this season until the SMU game, Godfrey also feels confidence in his ability.

“I’ve been shooting (three-pointers) well in practice, too,” Godfrey said. “I just don’t know why it’s not falling, but you know, that’s how basketball works. So, I just trust the work I put in.”

While Godfrey’s shot from long range was crucial in keeping a comfortable lead on Wednesday, his greatest contribution, along with the offensive takeover in the second half, was his ability to remain composed to secure a close conference win.

The positivity Brownell sees everyday in his standout was a big part of helping Clemson win its sixth consecutive game decided by seven or fewer points.

“We lost some, we won some, but I think just experiencing both sides helps us prepare better,” Godfrey said. “Just especially those late games, you know, especially the first couple games we had… And ACC games at the end are real tight. But I think every game is a learning (process).”

One of those lessons from the SMU game, from a statistical perspective, is that getting the ball to the 6-foot-7 big man’s hands is a surefire way to ensure success. Down the stretch, Godfrey shot a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor, snagged four rebounds, and made four free throws that all but sealed the game for Clemson. 

So far in ACC play, Godfrey is averaging 15 points on 78.3 percent shooting, leading Clemson in both categories. Although the Tigers are off to a 3-0 start in their league for the second consecutive year, the sledding will not get any easier this week.

Clemson travels to Joyce Arena to take on Notre Dame (10-5, 1-1 ACC) Saturday. The Tigers are 2-3 in their last five matchups with the Fighting Irish. The meeting will mark Godfrey’s fourth time playing Notre Dame.

Odds are, he will probably race to be the first one on the plane.