With how good NBA offenses have become, every team needs a defensive big man who can close off the rim.
Donovan Clingan has been that guy for UConn's No. 8-ranked defense. The proven winner should be able to do the same in the NBA.
Clingan has been a dominant college player, with no obvious weaknesses aside from poor free throw shooting and a lack of a jumper. How will his game translate against bigger players and better athletes?
Here's what the 20-year-old should look like at the next level and where he will likely go in the draft.
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Donovan Clingan stats
| Stat | Average |
| Points | 12.8 |
| Rebounds | 7.4 |
| Assists | 1.5 |
| Blocks | 2.4 |
| Steals | 0.5 |
| Field goal % | 64.8 |
| 3-point % | 33.3 |
| Free throw % | 58.3 |
Donovan Clingan height, weight
The most appealing aspect of Clingan is his massive NBA-ready body. Only three NBA players are taller than his 7-2 height.
- Height: 7-2
- Weight: 280 pounds
- Wingspan: 7-7
Donovan Clingan strengths
When you look at Clingan, you see an NBA player. He is going to step in and immediately be an impact defender and rebounder.
His performance against Northwestern in the Round of 32, where he recorded 14 points, 14 rebounds and an astounding eight blocks, was a great encapsulation of why he's a projected lottery pick. He's enormous, and he completely walls off the rim.
Clingan moves his body pretty well for a player of his size. While he's not going to be able to switch across every position, he can play in a variety of defensive schemes. UConn has used him high up the floor and in a deep drop near the basket throughout the year with great results.
Clingan has a good motor, both on offense and defense. He will make multiple efforts to stay in plays defensively, and he's a rim runner who will hustle to pick up some easy transition baskets.
Clingan is a solid but limited offensive player. He will set killer screens, opening up driving lanes for his guards. He's got a nice soft touch near the rim as a roll man. While he's not an insane leaper, he has good hands and can finish lobs.
Clingan made the decision to stay for his sophomore year, and he shored up some of the concerns about his passing ability. He tripled his assists per game while also cutting down on his turnovers. He's not a great passer, but he should be able to make basic reads and be useful in handoffs.
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Donovan Clingan weaknesses
Clingan is going to be more of a traditional NBA big man. He doesn't have the shooting, ballhandling skills or elite lateral movement that make other players his size special.
He's been a poor free throw shooter dating back to his high school days, and he hit just 55.6 percent of his freebies through two years at UConn. He has shown flashes of a jump shot and might be able to develop that someday.
The form looks good, but he's probably never going to shoot 3s at high volume.
Lifelong Celtics fan Donovan Clingan getting some looks from downtown inside TD Garden: pic.twitter.com/jq3CxX2yaM
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 27, 2024
Health is also a concern. Clingan hasn't played a high volume of minutes in college and he missed the early portion of UConn's season due to injury. A player of his size always presents that type of risk.
MORE: Why Zach Edey is now viewed as a potential first-round pick
Donovan Clingan NBA Mock Draft projection
Mock Draft projection: Late lottery
Clingan projects as an above-average starting center. That isn't hugely valuable in the modern NBA, where wings and playmaking guards are harder to find, but he's a very good basketball player who can be an anchor of a top defense. That is worth a pick in the early teens, particularly in a mediocre draft where there aren't as many sure bets around.
Donovan Clingan NBA player comparison
Plays like: Ivica Zubac
Zubac has started every game for the Clippers this year, helping them become a dangerous team in the West with his size, rebounding and rolling. Clingan will be a bigger, better rim protector.
Zubac is no slouch on that end of the floor — his defensive impact has been underrated this season. He's cleaned up teammates' mistakes and moved decently well on the perimeter.
Zubac has also turned into a great roller and decent passer who can do his job on offense. He doesn't stretch the floor with his shooting, but the Clippers still have a top-three offense with him carving out space for other, more talented scorers. That is the most likely archetype that Clingan will fit into.
