Going out on top: UConn’s Clingan goes into draft

• Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPNApr 12, 2024, 03:30 PM ET

UConn 7-foot-2 sophomore Donovan Clingan– one of the foundations of the Huskies’ back-to-back NCAA championship groups– will enter the 2024 NBA draft.The No. 3 possibility in ESPN’s Leading 100 list, Clingan is expected to be in the running to end up being the No. 1 pick in the June draft after a dominant late-season and NCAA competition run.Clingan leaves UConn for the NBA after a historical high school and college career. Before signing up with coach Dan Hurley at UConn, Clingan became one of Connecticut’s all-time scholastic legends for Bristol Central High School under coach Tim Barrette.Clingan stated in a post on social media that his 2 years at UConn”

went beyond all my dreams and expectations.”# 32 Out pic.twitter.com/tpD1stCWe5!.?.!— Donovan Clingan( @clingan_donovan )April 12, 2024 After overcoming some early-season battles, Clingan, 20, played his best basketball in March and April. He used his 7-foot-7 wingspan and incredible timing to end up being a prolific shot-blocker

, averaging 2.5 to rank eighth in the nation.Clingan likewise played an enormous role for the country’s No. 1-ranked offense. The Huskies ran a lot of their half-court sets through Clingan in the low, mid and high posts. He set screens, assisted in out of dribble handoffs, finished well with both hands and displayed sleek footwork at the rim.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Clingan averaged 15.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.2 blocks in the Huskies’ 2024 competition run, all up from his season averages. He had a career-high 8 blocks in a second-round success over Northwestern.

His 19 overall obstructs in the NCAA tournament

were the most since the 2016 tournament.Clingan was one of 2 players with 400 points, 80 blocks and 50 helps in Division I this season– together with back-to-back John R. Wooden Award winner Zach Edey of Purdue, according to ESPN Stats & Information.The NBA draft will be June 26-27 in New York City City.ESPN NBA draft analyst Jonathan Givony contributed to this report.