A heavy pivot with disproportionate dimensions, dominant in the NCAA, who is arriving in the NBA? No, there's more to life than just the Zach Edey phenomenon. Double university champion with UConn, Donovan Clingan seems promised a much more secure future than his Canadian counterpart who had nevertheless given him a lot of worry during the last university final. Donovan Clingan is taking full advantage of his successful March Madness (14.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3 blocks) and a crop less rich in potential superstars to rise to the heights of the Draft.
The Husky is not just an expedient. Keystone of Connecticut in defense, he has the qualities to be of the caliber of Rudy Gobert or Victor Wembanyama, who in addition to the counters recorded change a quantity of shots or even intimidate so much that the attackers prefer to move on. Donovan Clingan does not stop at a lightning rod profile, and completes his profile with some interesting qualities and a style more adaptable to the NBA than that of Zach Edey.
Can he be more than a specialist in obscure tasks? A good part of the future of the pivot, who has already reached milestones between his two NCAA seasons, depends on his development and the franchise that will secure his services. But it's hard to imagine the one sometimes nicknamed “Cling Kong” by Connecticut's followers not finding his place in the NBA, regardless of the magnitude of his role.
Profile
Job : pivot
Size : 2m18
Weight : 128kgs
Team : Connecticut Huskies (NCAA)
Stats 2023/24: 13 points (at 63.9%), 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists in 22.6 minutes
Strong points
– Circle protection. Dominant in the NCAA (2.5 blocks / match, 3.9 brought back per 36 minutes), Donovan Clingan has everything to be a defensive anchor at the higher level. His 2m31 wingspan and 2m18 without shoes will place him in the NBA Top 10 and Top 5 respectively. And if Zach Edey was not also from this vintage, he would have no physical equivalent in his promotion. Clingan also has excellent instincts on the counter as well as in pick-and-roll placement, which makes him a massive deterrent weapon (43.3% on shots near the circle when he is the first defender, 25% in ” post-ups”). Even his mobility is correct for such a size, to the point of being able to go out mid-distance on ball carriers after a screen.
– Interior scoring. Donovan Clingan is not a volume forward. But his aforementioned physical qualities, good hands and movement speed make him a reliable points provider. UConn knew how to use it perfectly on pick-and-roll, which it could reproduce without any real problem in the NBA. His presence on the offensive rebound (2.5 / game) gives him easy baskets, even in a more locked match. He also showed some flashes of creation which are just waiting to be exploited and refined.
Weak points
– Physical condition. Donovan Clingan only played 22.5 minutes this season, and at times gave the impression that he couldn't really give more. The pivot will have to work on his endurance, the repetition of efforts, while he does not count the number of good screens he can set when he is on the floor, and the movements without the ball on both sides of the field. Clingan at least greatly improved his tendency to accumulate fouls between his first and second NCAA years. But not his recurring foot injuries, which caused him to miss games during his two seasons with the Huskies.
– The shot. With a small 58.3% on free throws, the 20-year-old could become an easy target to send to the line and prevent him from staying on the field too long. This is already a step forward compared to the 51.7% of his rookie season with Connecticut, the hope of possible progression over time. Recruiters are already fantasizing about the possibility of seeing Clingan equip himself with at least an honest shot, while he does not hesitate to try from afar in training (2/8 at 3-points in NCAA this season) and that he pleasantly surprised at the Draft Combine with a serious 56% (4e best pivot) in the exercise of the winning shot in the left corner of the floor.
Comparison
Donovan Clingan seems to have a floor Walker Kessler with an already finer offensive game, and could have a ceiling of Dikembe Mutombo with which he shares a large part of the measurements. But the NBA is no longer what it was in the 90s.
Prognosis
Top 7 assured, everything will now depend on the choices of the leading franchises. Donovan Clingan is still among the candidates for first pick with the Hawks, as he could slide to the Blazers in 7 since the Rockets (3e choice), the Spurs (4e and 8e choice), the Pistons (5e choice) and the Hornets (6e choice) are not looking for a pivot as a priority.
