Donovan Clingan enters NBA Draft as potential top pick after UConn national title win
12/04/2024 23:00
The UConn basketball Huskies are the undisputed kings of the college game after winning back-to-back national championships. One of the most prominent stars of their latest title run is now looking to cash in on the success he achieved at Storrs. Donovan Clingan is declaring for the NBA Draft, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The 7-foot-2 center has been a projected lottery pick throughout the season, but he is presently a legitimate contender to be selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 class. Who says there is no place in the league for a traditional big man?
Clingan Arrived at Connecticut as a highly touted but raw prospect. The presence of Adama Sanogo prevented him from logging many minutes in his freshman season, and injuries kept his usage limited during the 2023-24 campaign. Although his offense was inconsistent, Clingan thrived on the defensive end of the floor.
He came into his own as his sophomore year progressed and finished with a notable stat line of 13 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 22.5 minutes per game. The All-American Honorable Mention saved his best performances for March, however.
Clingan led the Huskies past Marquette for their first Big East title since 2011 (temporarily left conference) and then dominated Illinois with 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting, 10 rebounds and a whopping five blocks in the Elite Eight. And although Zach Edey shot 60 percent from the field in Monday’s championship clash, Donovan Clingan kept him in check during a crucial stretch in the second half.
His role in helping UConn make history has him rising up draft boards.
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