Clemson standout Ian Schieffelin brings elite rebounding and dual-sport versatility to South Florida, vying for a roster spot this preseason.
The Miami Heat have had a very prolific offseason, adding multiple big-name players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson. Even with these veterans coming in, there are some under-the-radar moves the team has been making to add depth to the roster. Last week, the Heat, through their G-League affiliate, added former first-round pick Mo Bamba to fight for a roster spot. Earlier this week, the Heat made another move, adding young guard Bez Mbeng. The guard was claimed off waivers by Miami prior to the beginning of the preseason in a couple of weeks.
Now, the Heat presumably made one of their final moves of the offseason by signing Ian Schieffelin to a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract on Friday afternoon.
Schieffelin, 23, is an intriguing player for the Heat to add. The forward played four seasons of college basketball with the Clemson Tigers from 2021-2025. He was named the ACC Most Improved Player in 2024 and was selected to the second-team All-ACC roster in 2025. The Tigers made it to the NCAA tournament twice during his tenure, even making it to the Elite Eight in 2024. That season, he shot an impressive 56.4 percent from the field and 46.9 percent from three-point range while averaging 10.1 points and 9.4 rebounds.
However, there is more to Schieffelin than just his college basketball career. In 2025, he was convinced by Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney to try football in his last season as a graduate senior and ended up playing eight games as a tight end for the Tigers. He only gathered two catches for 10 yards but it is still impressive to see a basketball player make the switch.
Schieffelin went undrafted after wrapping up his collegiate career. He played five games in the 2026 NBA Summer League for the Heat, averaging 8.4 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc.
This signing, although under-the-radar and not guaranteed, most likely signals the Heat won't be making one final bigger move to add to the rotation. D'Angelo Russell and Ryan Nembhard are two recently waived guards who sparked some rumors but unless Miami waives a player, it seems unlikely they get added despite the Heat's desperate need for a backup point guard. Gabe Vincent has been another name floating around but the Heat have reportedly been against handing him a training camp contract as well.
Join the Community
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news! It's completely free to join, simply by clicking the yellow button at the top of the homepage. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP and stay even more connected!
