Clemson basketball picks up another forward in transfer portal

Clemson women’s basketball is stacking frontcourt options quickly, and Shawn Poppie added another one with Southern Cal transfer Yakiya Milton.

Milton, a 6-foot-5 forward from Jacksonville, Fla., committed to Clemson after spending last season at USC. Before that, she played two seasons at Auburn, giving the Tigers another player with high-major experience and a frame that fits what Poppie has been trying to add through the portal.

This move comes shortly after Clemson landed Saint Mary’s transfer Edie Clarke, a 6-foot-4 forward from Melbourne. Both moves show a pretty clear plan. Clemson is trying to get longer, deeper, and more athletic in the frontcourt after a season where the Tigers needed more reliable interior options.

Milton’s numbers at USC were not massive, but there is still something to work with. She averaged 2.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game last season while appearing in 16 games for a loaded Trojans team. Her best moments came in smaller bursts, including a career-best 12 rebounds against Portland and a career-high four blocks against Cal Poly. Clemson is getting someone who can rebound, protect the rim, and give the roster a different level of length.

Poppie’s own comments on Milton probably explain the pickup best. He praised her upside, length, and athleticism, while pointing to her ability to defend multiple positions, protect the rim and rebound. The offensive piece may still be developing, but the defensive and rebounding tools are already obvious.

Milton also brings SEC and Big Ten experience after her stops at Auburn and USC, which matters for a Clemson team trying to keep up their climb in the ACC. She appeared in 19 games at Auburn during the 2024-25 season after missing the first 11 games due to injury, and she also played in 25 games as a freshman in 2023-24.