UConn center Clingan to return for soph

UConn center Donovan Clingan revealed Saturday he prepares to go back to the Huskies for his sophomore season.Clingan, a 7-foot-2

big man from Bristol, Connecticut, would have likely been a borderline first-round pick or early-second-round pick had he stated for the NBA draft.He came off the

bench in all 39 games this season, however he was among the most impactful reserves in the nation. Although Clingan didn’t play adequate minutes to be thought about for the nationwide stat leaders, he would have ranked near the top of the charts in block percentage, offensive rebounding percentage and 2-point field goal percentage.Running it back! pic.twitter.com/OkpVvYfdvj!.?.!— Donovan Clingan(@clingan_donovan)April 8, 2023 Clingan balanced 6.9 points, 5.6 rebounds

and 1.8 blocks in just 13.1 minutes, shooting 65.5%

from the field. That would put him at 21.1 points, 17.2

rebounds and 5.5 blocks per 40 minutes, which would have ranked initially in rebounding and second in blocks amongst qualifying prospects.Despite playing just 12.5 minutes in the NCAA tournament, he averaged 5.8 points and 5.0 rebounds while blocking 11 shots– including a 12-point, nine-rebound, two-block effort in the first round against Iona.UConn saw potential lottery game choice Jordan Hawkins leave for the NBA draft on Friday and now waits for decisions from Andre Jackson Jr. and Adama Sanogo. If the Huskies get back Jackson, as expected, and keep Tristen Newton in the fold for another year, coach Dan Hurley’s group might go into the 2023-24 project as the preseason No. 1 team in the country.