CLEMSON — Chase Hunter took on a new role that had nothing to do with his performance on the basketball court last January.

Two months before the Clemson Tigers took the NCAA Tournament by storm and booked a ticket to their first Elite Eight appearance since 1980, Hunter announced the birth of his daughter, Milani, on January 24.

Fatherhood seemed to complement the point guard’s production immediately. 

Hunter was Clemson’s leading scorer in the tournament run, averaging 17.9 points per game, including two 20-plus point performances in the Tigers’ second and third games of the tournament.

The Atlanta native had his tournament high 21 points against third-seeded Baylor, shooting 60-percent from beyond the arc. After those performances, Hunter was quick to let everyone know who he was playing for.

“I give her the credit. Now I have something to play for. I’m ready to get back home to my baby girl,” the veteran said of his daughter after the Baylor win.

Since then, Hunter has proven last year’s March Madness run was no fluke, and neither was the maturity he played with.

This season, Hunter is Clemson’s leading scorer, averaging 17.9 points per game. He already has six games with 20 or more points, as opposed to five total in his five previous seasons at Clemson.

His leadership and ease on the court this season is evidenced by his clutch shooting, like a dagger three with 14 seconds left to beat Pitt on Jan. 18, and a buzzer beater to force overtime against South Carolina in December.

Clemson head coach Brad Brownell credits much of Hunter’s maturation and confidence this season to his experience as a dad.

“I do think it’s matured him, just like you would hope that it would, and he obviously loves being a father,” Brownell said. “He takes it very seriously and spends a lot of his time with his girlfriend and his daughter and he’s done that for the last couple years.

“It’s consistent…He wants to be there and talks about her all the time. It’s actually a lot of fun, he and I talk about it.”

Brownell understands the process of growing through fatherhood on a very personal level. His two daughters Abby and Kate are former Clemson students who came to support their dad in the Tigers’ March Madness run. 

“They’re special. They’re special to me and are incredibly supportive and I’m trying to reciprocate as best as I can as a good dad,” Brownell said of his daughters in 2020, Hunter’s freshman season.

Since 2020, Hunter’s hard work on and off the court has paid off, and continues to shine at the right times. 

 “Being here so long, [I’ve] been through so many ups and downs and you learn a lot through it all. I put in a lot of work and everything’s just coming together,” he said. “I’m very confident right now, so I just want to keep riding this wave and helping this team win.” 

With the win over Syracuse this past Wednesday, Clemson improved to 16-4 overall and 8-1 in the ACC. The Tigers have won four straight games and seven of their last eight overall.

They hope to keep their winning ways going on Saturday when they visit Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. Tip is set for 5 p.m.

More specifically, the Tigers hope to pick up a win on Milani Hunter’s first birthday.