NBA Draft riser: Donovan Clingan, UCONN
There may have been some that were bullish on Donovan Clingan's NBA prospects but watching how much he impacts the game for UCONN, it's hard to deny that he's somewhat cemented his place as a potential lottery pick heading into the 2024 NBA Draft. As he's averaged three blocks per game in the NCAA Tournament, Clingan proved that he has the potential to be a defensive anchor for a team at the next level.
Even on the other end of the floor, Clingan has shown signs of promise. He doesn't have the softest of touches or perhaps even a certified go-to move offensively, but the fact that he still is able to make an impact on that end of the floor is a special trait that is difficult to teach to big men. Clingan may not be a complete prospect, but he certainly has a skill set that could be viewed as promising.
If Clingan can develop a jump shot or even the foundation of one, he could end up being one of the bigger surprises out of this year's NBA Draft class. Even with his skeptics heading into this season, the 7-foot-2 center has proven that he's ready to make the jump to the next level.