UConn's Donovan Clingan declares for NBA draft

Field Level Media|published: Fri 12th April, 16:25 2024

Purdue Boilermakers center Zach Edey (15) reaches in on Connecticut Huskies center Donovan Clingan (32) during the Men's NCAA national championship game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on April 8, 2024. credits: Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Sophomore center Donovan Clingan has played a sizable role in leading UConn to back-to-back championships. On Friday, Clingan announced the next step of his journey by declaring to enter the 2024 NBA Draft.

Listed at 7 feet 2 and 280 pounds, Clingan is expected to be a top pick in the upcoming draft. He is the No. 3 prospect in ESPN's Top 100 list for the June 26-27 draft.

"I'll be pursuing the lifelong dream of mine to play in the NBA and will be entering my name in the 2024 NBA Draft!!" he wrote on Twitter.

"It will be very hard for me to leave my brothers after all the success these past two years, but the time is NOW!!"

After playing behind Adama Sanogo last season, Clingan averaged 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks while shooting 63.9 percent from the floor in 2023-24.

Clingan stepped up in the NCAA Tournament, following up a career-best eight blocks in the Huskies' 75-58 win over Northwestern in the second round by adding a 22-point, 10-rebound, five-block performance in a 77-52 victory over Illinois in the Elite Eight.

—Field Level Media