Ian Schieffelin has returned to the basketball court, but apparently he cannot escape the football references just yet.
The former Clemson basketball player and tight end scored on a hook shot during the Miami Heat’s 128-118 preseason victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. The basket itself was routine; the call after the shot went in is the moment that went viral.
With Miami leading 115-110 and fewer than five minutes remaining, longtime Heat play-by-play announcer Eric Reid reached into Schieffelin’s unusual Clemson athletic background.
“Ian Schieffelin, the former Clemson tight end, with a first down,” Reid said as the shot fell.
Miami’s social-media team immediately recognized what it had.
“That’s former Clemson TE, Ian Schieffelin
to YOU,” the Heat wrote alongside the clip.
That's former Clemson TE, Ian Schieffelin to YOU pic.twitter.com/83pB4arp4z
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 9, 2026
The moment quickly surpassed 100,000 views on multiple platforms, giving Clemson fans another reminder of one of the strangest career paths in recent program history and gave yet another example of Clemson basketball propaganda being spread on social media.
Schieffelin played 134 games for Clemson basketball and developed into one of the ACC’s best rebounders. He averaged 12.4 points and 9.4 rebounds during his final season before trading Littlejohn Coliseum for Death Valley and joining Dabo Swinney’s football program.
The 6-foot-8, 240-pound athlete appeared in eight games at tight end, catching two passes for 10 yards. He eventually returned to basketball and joined Miami for the California Classic and NBA Summer League.
Schieffelin averaged 8.4 points and 3.6 rebounds across five Summer League appearances before signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Heat on Sept. 25.
Intriguing linebacker decommits from Clemson
— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) October 9, 2026
📸 Coley Cleary, USA TODAY NETWORK. https://t.co/uloeynZ8He pic.twitter.com/pWrNxvNgEV
Now he is fighting for an opportunity to remain with the organization. If the basketball plan falls through Reid has already found him another position. Two points on the stat sheet. First down on the broadcast.
Contact us at @Clemson_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Ian Schieffelin goes viral for ‘first down’ Miami Heat call
