RJ Godfrey on going up against Georgia basketball, his return to Clemson

CHARLESTON, S.C.—RJ Godfrey walked and talked Friday night after Clemson’s postgame press conference wrapped up with a reporter who covered him last season when he played for Georgia basketball.

Godfrey had just helped the Tigers pull out a 70-67 win against West Virginia in the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic.

He was asked about the possibility of facing his former Georgia teammates — which become a reality after Georgia’s 78-77 win that followed over Xavier.

The 6-foot-7, 240-pound forward went from Clemson to Georgia and now is back with Clemson in a transfer portal merry-go-round. He will face his former teammates Sunday Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. in the championship game of the tournament.

As he walked down the hallway Friday night, Georgia players were heading towards the court.

Bulldogs junior forward Dylan James gave Godfrey a hug. So did Jiden Newell.

OK, now about the move to Clemson.

“I just think every part of it, the coaching, the place, just there’s a saying, there’s something in these hills,” he said referring to a often-referred to phrase from Clemson alum Joe Sherman. “ I think I was just love in the hills as soon as I stepped on it freshman year.”

Godfrey had to stop the interview.

He was too busy giving out hugs to Georgia staff members in the hallway of TD Arena.

Coach Mike White greeted him.

“Nice to see you,” Godfrey said.

Then he resumed.

“I just think the Clemson family, the culture is something I was addicted to,” he said. “I fell in love with it my sophomore year and I just missed it the day I left. Not only the players but the people there, they’re family to me. I had to go back.”

Yet The Suwanee native did transfer to Georgia where his father Randall played linebacker for the Bulldogs.

Godfrey started every game last season for a Georgia team that made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015.

“I love RJ,” White said. “I was crushed, obviously, but happy for him if he felt like there was a situation that was better for him. I’ll talk about it openly. I know a lot of people won’t on guys transferring out on you, transferring in. He’s wonderful. I’d give him the shirt off my back. He’d do that for any of us. He’s a great dude. Helped us get to an NCAA Tournament. I’m proud to have coached him for a year.”

Godfrey averaged 6.4 points and 3.8 rebounds in 19.4 minutes a game with Georgia.

“That’s my boy,” James said after Georgia’s Friday win. “Like everybody says you’re friends off the court, but once you get on the court, it’s a different mentality. It’s going to be a fun game.”

Godfrey said NIL was a factor in his move to Georgia after Clemson’s run to the Elite Eight in 2024 as a key reserve.

“Now I love basketball,” he said. “I figured out it’s not about the money now, it’s about the experiences and the relationships you create with people and that’s a big reason why I came back to Clemson.”

Godfrey is second on Clemson in scoring at 11.3 and rebounding at 6.5 and tied for the lead with 6 blocks while shooting 71.1 percent.

“I think it’s going to be supercompetitive,” Godfrey said. “I’m going to be honest even last year, I was still talking about how good Clemson was when I was there, but I think it’s going to be supercompetitive. They’re all my friends, they’re all my guys. I still talk to a lot of them on a daily basis.”

Said White: “Hope he has a monster year.” Then he said jokingly with a laugh, “Just hopes he plays average on Sunday against us.”

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: R.J. Godfrey, Mike White on the forward's return to Clemson from Georgia