Clemson transfer RJ Godfrey has signed with the Arizona Wildcats to be their starting power forward. Arizona has been searching all summer and has landed with Godfrey to finalize the 2027 roster.
Godfrey was one of the players involved in the lawsuit against the NCAA that recently granted an additional season of eligibility to eligible players via temporary injunction. The NCAA will likely appeal and only time will tell how that affects these players.
Godfrey becomes a veteran forward on an Arizona team looking to make back-to-back Final Fours. Let’s break down his fit in Tucson, why he is the ideal player to fulfill this role at Arizona and more!
Why RJ Godfrey is ideal fit under Tommy Lloyd
Last season, Tommy Lloyd found success by running Koa Peat and Tobe Awaka at the power forward position. Godfrey is stylistically very similar to Peat and Awaka.
He is not quite as physically dominant as those two guys; he is not quite as versatile or skilled as Peat and he cannot rebound as prolifically as Awaka, but Godfrey has a similar play style and has been highly effective for four seasons at the high-major level (3 years with Clemson and 1 season with Georgia).
Godfrey averaged 12 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game and 1.6 assists per game last season for the Tigers in the ACC.
Diving deeper into his numbers, it becomes clear why he fits the Wildcats’ play style.
Godfrey was one of the primary drivers of success last season with Clemson. Not only was he the scoring leader, but he was only 0.1 rebounds per game behind the team lead in that category as well.
The analytics back this impact up. Godfrey was 98th percentile in win shares per 40 and 99th percentile in regularized adjusted plus-minus.
Offensively, Godfrey will be able to help out in many ways. He can get his buckets around the rim at a high level, ranking 96th percentile in paint points per game and 92nd percentile in true shooting percentage.
He will add much needed rim pressure to the lineup as well, as he ranked 92nd percentile in personal fouls drawn per game, 88th percentile free throw attempts per game, 87th percentile offensive rebounding game and 87th percentile second chance points per game.
Lastly, Arizona loves a power forward with some game feel and the ability to make the extra pass. Godfrey can certainly make those same reads that Arizona asked Peat to make last season.
Godfrey was 71st percentile in assist percentage last season and was comfortable hitting the cutter or open man. The high/low game will be back in Tucson at a high level this season.
RJ Godfrey Addition Cements Fan Expectations
Arizona fans always have high expectations for their team, but coming off of a Final Four, the expectations have never been higher under coach Lloyd, especially when fans consider the level of roster built heading into August.
Caleb Holt, Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov will all likely be high first-round NBA draft picks. The supplementary talent is also there. All Arizona needed was the final puzzle piece.
RJ Godfrey’s addition to the roster gives Arizona fans real reason to feel confident that the team has skill cohesion and could make another deep run. This roster should be consensus top five in the country and should be viewed as a top three roster after the addition of Godfrey.
If Arizona was unable to add a power forward for this season there would have been a glaring hole on the roster that would make it very hard for fans for pencil in their March and April vacation plans. That is no longer the case.
More Arizona Wildcats Coverage + RJ Godfrey breakdowns
For more Arizona Wildcats coverage and daily live podcasts, tune into the AZ Wildcats Podcast. Arizona football is right around the corner and basketball will be here before you know it. Don’t miss a thing and follow us on X here. Follow Kevin Thomas on X here.
