STORRS, Conn. — UConn sophomore center Donovan Clingan announced on Friday that he will enter the 2024 NBA Draft, according to ESPN basketball insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
Clingan, the 7-foot-2 focal point of the Huskies 2024 national championship team, won two national titles during his time in Storrs. He was also a key component of UConn’s 2023 national championship squad coming off the bench.
Projected as the No. 3 prospect in ESPN’s Top 100 list, Clingan is widely expected to be a top 5 pick in the NBA Draft. Wojnarowski noted that he could even elevate to the No. 1 pick in the June draft.
Known by fans as “The Great Wall of Bristol”, Clingan established himself as one of the most successful high school players in Connecticut history during his time at Bristol Central High School.
Despite early season injury struggles, Clingan turned a corner when he came back in mid-January, earning an Honorable All-Big East mention at the end of the regular season. He played a significant role in UConn's 2024 Big East Tournament championship run.
Clingan's NCAA Tournament run was even more dominant, as he was a force on the offensive and defensive ends, propelling UConn to its sixth national title on Monday. In six NCAA Tournament games, Clingan averaged 15.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game, all higher than his season averages.
With a 7-foot-7 wingspan, Clingan became one of the most prolific shot blockers and rim protectors in the college game. He was also a centerpiece of the Huskies’ offense, where he “set screens, facilitated out of dribble handoffs, finished well with both hands and displayed polished footwork at the rim,” according to Wojnarowski, who added that his 19 blocks in the tournament were the most since 2016.
Along with back-to-back John R. Wooden Award winner Zach Edey of Purdue, Clingan was one of only two Division I players this season to score 400 points, register 80 blocks and dish out 50 assists.
Clingan will likely be picked on the first night of the NBA Draft on June 26 in New York City.
Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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