HARTFORD — UConn center Donovan Clingan made one of the biggest decisions of his life on Friday, April 12, when he decided to declare for the 2024 NBA Draft.
The two-time National Champion, who is considered a lottery pick in many NBA mock drafts, had the opportunity to return back to UConn for a third-straight title run, but chose to take the next step by entering the draft.
After celebrating UConn’s second-straight National Championship in Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday in front of the XL Center, Clingan opened up on why he declared for the NBA Draft instead of returning back to UConn for a third season.
“Just realizing it’s the point where I’m at, everything I’ve done and the opportunity that’s in front of me,” said Clingan. “I have a chance to be a top-15, top-20 pick and I feel like my body and me as a person, me as a player has matured enough and grown enough to be able to try to take my game to the next level.”
Clingan said that the decision wasn’t easy and that it was tough delivering the news to Coach Dan Hurley and the coaching staff.
“It was very hard for me to go up there and talk to the coaches yesterday and talk about leaving. I didn’t want to leave,” said Clingan. “It’s hard, you know, I love UConn and this place so just to be able to bring two titles back here it’s so special.”
Clingan joined UConn coming fresh off of winning the Division II state championship with Bristol Central in 2022. As a freshman at UConn, he was the backup to Adama Sanogo but made an impact in his first season with the team. Clingan averaged 6.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game while being named to the Big-East All-Freshman team.
After helping his team win their fifth National Championship in school history, he entered his sophomore year as the team’s starting Center. He made a bigger impact, averaging 13 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 1.5 assists per game. Clingan earned an AP All-American Honorable Mention.
Along with Clingan, the Huskies will be losing Tristen Newton (the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player), and Cam Spencer, due to their eligibility ending.
As the Bristol native will soon join whichever team that drafts him, he will most likely be much further away from his home state of Connecticut. He proudly spoke of playing his last basketball season in his home state of Connecticut while bringing home another championship for his home state.
“Bristol means a lot, I'm proud to be born and raised from Bristol,” said Clingan. “I'm just happy to be able to do it in my home state. I got Connecticut across my chest, I love this place and I love Bristol.”
Clingan’s big month will be capped off by his mother, Stacy Porrini Clingan being inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Clingan passed away at the age of 42 on March 27, 2018, after a hard fought battle with cancer. She was a three-sport athlete at Bristol Central and held school records in rebounds (1,032) and blocked shots (273), both of which were broken by her son, Donovan.
After winning back-to-back National Championships, declaring for the NBA Draft, and soon to see his mother inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame later in the month, Clingan described this month as a feeling like a dream.
“It’s a big month, a lot of cool things are happening and a lot of life-changing decisions, you know, opportunities of a lifetime,” said Clingan. “Life feels like a dream right now, it doesn’t feel real. You dream of this as a kid, you dream of playing Division I basketball, never mind winning two National titles in a row and then having the opportunity to go to the NBA, so it’s special and I’m not going to take anything for granted.”
