NBA Draft Scouting Report: UConn's Donovan Clingan
Donovan Clingan
Center | UConn
Height: 7'2” | Weight: 265 lbs
2024 Draft Age: 20.32
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Prospect Profile
After winning an NCAA Championship as a freshman in a limited role at UConn, Clingan is positioned to be one of the best bigs in the country entering year two. Last season, he put up ridiculous numbers in limited action (just over 13 minutes per game), producing 30.8 points, 25.1 rebounds and 8.0 blocks per 100 possessions.
Near the rim, Clingan is extremely efficient and finishes very well through contact. While he has more work to do from a coordination standpoint, he’s learning to leverage his frame to take advantage of smaller defenders in the paint. As the season goes on, it’s fair to expect he becomes more fluid as a player and continues to build out a more smooth game. He’s able to finish with power, but also has great touch for his size. The UConn sophomore is great at establishing position in the paint and sealing his man off for an easy entry pass.
Clingan only attempted one 3-pointer as a freshman and rarely took shots outside of the paint, so extending his range will be absolutely critical for him to really get consideration near the top of the 2024 NBA Draft. As good as he is at many other aspects of the game, the modern NBA requires most centers to at least have the ability to keep defenses honest when catching on the perimeter or the mid-range. He also shot just over 50% from the free throw line last season, which isn’t promising relative to his future shooting upside.
As a rim protector, Clingan is one of the best in the country. He takes up so much space with his long frame and also moves very well for a prospect of his height and weight. He produced 1.8 blocks in just 13.1 minutes per game as a freshman, which is insane. Headlined by his defensive dominance, he has an incredible blend of size, mobility, quickness, timing, and coordination, flying around the court with his 7-foot-7 wingspan and 9-foot-6 standing reach to fortify the rim. Not only is he massive, but the Bristol native also has pristine timing on his contests, tracks the ball with precision, and covers ground in a hurry. He is also incredible cleaning the glass on both ends.
During his sophomore season, the ability to score from outside of the paint will be his swing skill. Even if he ends up not developing a jumper, there’s still a real chance he goes in the lottery given the rim protection and efficiency as a paint scorer. Clingan will be one of the best returning college players in the upcoming season, but will have extremely high expectations taking on a huge role after being a complimentary piece on last season’s championship run.
Highlights
Draft Projection
Potential Lottery Pick in 2024 NBA Draft.
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