UConn 7-foot-2 sophomore Donovan Clingan — one of many cornerstones of the Huskies’ back-to-back NCAA championship groups — will enter the 2024 NBA draft.
The No. 3 prospect in ESPN’s High 100 listing, Clingan is anticipated to be within the operating to develop into the No. 1 decide within the June draft after a dominant late-season and NCAA match run.
Clingan leaves UConn for the NBA after a historic highschool and school profession. Earlier than becoming a member of coach Dan Hurley at UConn, Clingan grew to become certainly one of Connecticut’s all-time scholastic legends for Bristol Central Excessive Faculty below coach Tim Barrette.
Clingan mentioned in a put up on social media that his two years at UConn “exceeded all my goals and expectations.”
💙 #32 Out pic.twitter.com/tpD1stCWe5
— Donovan Clingan (@clingan_donovan) April 12, 2024
After overcoming some early-season struggles, Clingan, 20, performed his finest basketball in March and April. He used his 7-foot-7 wingspan and large timing to develop into a prolific shot-blocker, averaging 2.5 to rank eighth within the nation.
Clingan additionally performed an immense function for the nation’s No. 1-ranked offense. The Huskies ran lots of their half-court units via Clingan within the low, mid and excessive posts. He set screens, facilitated out of dribble handoffs, completed nicely with each arms and displayed polished footwork on the rim.
Clingan averaged 15.3 factors, 8.3 rebounds and three.2 blocks within the Huskies’ 2024 match run, all up from his season averages. He had a career-high eight blocks in a second-round victory over Northwestern. His 19 complete blocks within the NCAA match had been essentially the most for the reason that 2016 match.
Clingan was certainly one of two gamers with 400 factors, 80 blocks and 50 assists in Division I this season — together with back-to-back John R. Wood Award winner Zach Edey of Purdue, in keeping with ESPN Stats & Info.
The NBA draft will likely be June 26-27 in New York Metropolis.
ESPN NBA draft analyst Jonathan Givony contributed to this report.
