CLEMSON, S.C. — The Clemson Athletic Department has spotlighted excellence, resilience, and dedication by honoring three remarkable student-athletes with prestigious awards for the 2024-25 academic year. Reese Basinger has been named the recipient of the IPTAY Athlete of the Year, Chase Hunter has snagged the Frank Howard Award, and Walker Parks has claimed the Brandon Streeter Award.
Reese Basinger: IPTAY Athlete of the Year
The IPTAY Athlete of the Year is awarded to the student-athlete who exemplifies excellence both on the field and in the classroom. Reese Basinger firmly fits this description, having achieved remarkable feats throughout the season. In 2025, she emerged as the ACC Pitcher of the Year, marking a historic moment as the first Clemson pitcher to earn this prestigious accolade. With an impressive record of 18 wins and a 2.94 ERA over 44 appearances, Basinger not only grabbed first-team All-ACC honors but also secured first-team All-Region recognition.
Basinger’s crowning achievement came during the NCAA Super Regional in Texas, where she led the Tigers to a stunning victory over the eventual National Champion Longhorns. This win was pivotal for the team, which also celebrated its first ACC Championship title and advanced to the NCAA tournament Super Regionals, bolstering Clemson’s stature in college softball.
Beyond her sporting prowess, Basinger is an academic superstar. Hailing from Evans, Ga., she was named the ACC Softball Scholar Athlete of the Year, boasting an impressive 4.0 GPA while pursuing a biology degree. Her scholarly achievements earned her a spot as a third-team Academic All-American through the College Sports Communicators, along with the distinction of being an NFCA All-America Scholar.
Chase Hunter: Frank Howard Award Recipient
The Frank Howard Award celebrates a student-athlete who embodies and brings honor to the Clemson community. This year, that honor goes to Chase Hunter, who shone on the basketball court as the leading scorer for the Clemson Tigers. Under Hunter’s leadership, the team recorded an outstanding 27 wins, including a record-setting 18 victories in ACC play and a remarkable nine wins on the road within the conference.
Originating from Atlanta, Ga., Hunter was honored as a first-team All-ACC player and selected to the Academic All-ACC team, joining former teammate Hunter Tyson as the only duo in Clemson history to achieve first-team All-ACC status in the same season. His accolades don’t stop there; he also earned a spot on the NABC All-District team, solidifying his status as a standout player.
In a stellar career, Hunter played in a record 110 wins for the Tigers. He ranks third in Clemson’s career scoring list, having tallied 1,768 points, while also securing a sixth-place standing for assists with 435. During his senior year in 2024-25, Hunter reached new heights, averaging an impressive 16.8 points per game, highlighted by a shooting accuracy of 41% from beyond the arc and an exceptional 87% from the foul line.
Walker Parks: Brandon Streeter Award Winner
The Brandon Streeter Award honors a student-athlete who has shown remarkable determination and perseverance in overcoming injury or illness to achieve outstanding performance. Walker Parks’s story is one of resilience. In 2022, he played through a challenging ACC Championship with torn ligaments in his ankle, an injury he initially sustained during a critical victory against NC State.
After undergoing surgery to address the damage, Parks faced a significant challenge when, during the second game of the 2023 season, an MRI revealed a serious issue: his Subtalar joint had fused together. With two surgical options laid before him—one that would end his football career and another that was uncertain—Parks bravely opted for the latter, missing the last 11 games of that season.
However, his determination paved the way for an impressive comeback in 2024. Parks was honored with third-team All-ACC accolades, playing a pivotal role in helping Clemson secure the ACC Championship and advance to the College Football Playoff. Not just a star on the field, Parks also excelled academically, earning first-team Academic All-ACC honors.
As he enters the 2025 season, Parks boasts a remarkable tally of 2,810 snaps over 53 games, placing him 12th in Clemson history for total plays. In 2024, he contributed heavily by playing 703 snaps, starting all 14 games, while helping the team maintain a top-15 national ranking in total offense with an impressive 452 yards per game. A native of Lexington, Ky., Parks is poised to continue making an impact as a returning starting offensive lineman on Clemson’s 2025 squad.