Donovan Clingan and 11 more players poised for a breakout

• Jeff Borzello, ESPN

  • Personnel WriterOct 26, 2023, 08:30 AM ET Close Basketball recruiting expert.
  • Joined ESPN in 2014.
  • Graduate of University of Delaware.A year earlier at

this time, Jordan Hawkins was coming off a season in which he started just four games and averaged 5.8 points. Bryce Hopkins balanced 2.1 points during a frustrating freshman season at Kentucky before moving. Olivier-Maxence Prosper was a function player and Kris Murray remained in his brother’s shadow.Time is said to be a gift and to use it wisely.Hawkins completed as a first-round choice and nationwide champion with the UConn Huskies. Hopkins was a consentaneous first-team All-Big East selection after averaging 15.8 points for the Providence Friars. Succeed averaged 12.5 points for the Marquette Golden Eagles and wound up as a first-round pick after impressing in pre-draft workouts. Murray followed a similar trajectory to his sibling and put up 20.2 points and 7.9 rebounds for the Iowa Hawkeyes before leaving as a first-round pick.There will once again be breakouts this season, whether it’s a transfer fitting in much better at a brand-new home, a previous highly-touted recruit understanding his full potential or just a freshman making a development as a sophomore.Editor’s Picks 1 Related For the purposes of this list, we consisted of only second-year players, so Miami Hurricanes

guard Wooga Poplar– who is creating rave reviews and even some NBA hype– and Arkansas Razorbacks forward Trevon Brazile– a predicted second-round pick– weren’t consisted of. We likewise didn’t consist of players who started 30-plus games last season, which precludes Dillon Mitchell, Mark Mitchell, Adem Bona and others from making this list, even if they’re primed for substantial steps forward from a statistical viewpoint. Clingan has been earmarked for a breakout sophomore season because almost the minute he

stepped on campus two summer seasons earlier. The 7-foot-2 Bristol, Connecticut, native supported All-American Adama Sanogo last season, but revealed really clear flashes of how good he might be with increased minutes: He averaged 6.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in just 13.1 minutes, with per 40 varieties of 21.1 points, 17.2 rebounds and 5.5 blocks, shooting nearly 66 %from the field. Clingan played more than 20 minutes in 2 games all season and balanced 16.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks in those 2 games. He’s presently No. 6 in ESPN’s 2024 mock draft.What we’re hearing:”There might be better returning low-post scorers in terms of upperclassmen that maybe produce higher points per game, however the important things about Donovan that makes him special is what he does vertically in the ball-screen game, the pressure he puts on the rim that creates threes and driving lanes. And then his rim defense and running.