The NBA Draft is approaching and set to be held across two days this year from June 26-27. The first round is scheduled for the first day while the second round will take place the following day. As the NBA Draft draws near, one name that is gaining traction among NBA front offices is former UConn star Donovan Clingan.
Clingan is considered one of the top overall players in the draft and a potential lottery pick. Clingan has drawn comparisons to Minnesota Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert via Jeremy Woo of ESPN.
Woo writes that, “Clingan's advocates around the NBA view him as a potential top-flight defensive center in the realm of Gobert, presuming he can stay healthy and continue to improve his body. His elite measurables at 7-foot-3 in shoes with a nearly 7-foot-7 wingspan, give him a unique physical presence.”
Woo continues with, “Even if he doesn't reach those heights on defense, Clingan projects to be a more versatile offensive player than Gobert, and if his three-point shot develops, he could function somewhat like Lopez, who turned himself into a quality floor-spacer and top defensive center midway through his 16-year career.”
Clingan is without a doubt a talented player and several teams are reportedly interested in moving up in the draft to acquire him. He could even be in play for the No. 1 pick by the Atlanta Hawks.
Donovan Clingan has a versatile skill-set useful in the NBA
Donovan Clingan might be one of the most versatile players in the 2024 NBA Draft. He's a 7-footer who can play in the paint and can step out and space the floor with his three-point shooting. He also has the tools to be a very good defensive anchor in the middle.
Clingan was a key player on last season's UConn Huskies team that won the national championship. He was a highly-touted recruit coming out of Bristol Central High School. He chose to play college basketball at UConn over offers from other top schools such as Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan, Rutgers, Providence, Georgetown and Syracuse.
Clingan was on the 2022-23 UConn team that also won the national championship but he didn't have as large a role as a freshman. He played behind current Chicago Bulls big man Adama Sanogo.
As a freshman, Clingan appeared in 39 games for the Huskies off the bench at a little over 13 minutes per game. He averaged 6.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shot with splits of 65.5 percent shooting from the field and 51.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line.
Clingan had the potential to be selected in the 2023 NBA Draft but decided to return to UConn for his sophomore season. This year, he had a breakout season. He appeared in 35 games for the Huskies, with 33 starts, at a little over 22 minutes per game. He averaged 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.5 blocked shots with splits of 63.9 percent shooting from the field, 25 percent shooting from the three-point line and 58.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line.
If Clingan can turn into a Rudy Gobert or Brook Lopez type of player, that's probably a best-case scenario. Both are high-level NBA starters and in the case of Gobert, an All-Star and All-Defensive Team player.
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