Donovan Clingan commits to UConn

[XLCenterFan]

I’ll do Donovan’s laundry, carry his books to class, and do his grocery shopping.

 

[YearoftheHusky]

Perfect.

I don't want to be that guy, just watched his highlights for the first time playing against New Britain (I think?) and he has so much work to do. I'm honestly not sure why he's ranked as highly as he is besides the fact that he's 7'1. He may be even rawer than Javonte Brown. The fact he's playing in LL and doesn't look dominant on tape when his competition is probably 6'4 maybe 6'6 if the team is lucky at the most is concerning.

“I don’t to be that guy.” Goes on to be exactly that guy.

 

[Umami Zen]

With the team speed and athletes that DC will have surrounding him in Storrs--Combined with his rebounding and passing skills--All the pieces will be in place for a dynamic fast breaking team when needed.

Once he grows into his body and improves his foot speed and his strength in the weight room.. He'll be a mismatch nightmare for opposing teams.

2 down -2 to go for 2022.

 

[huskyfan224]

With the team speed and athletes that DC will have surrounding him in Storrs--Combined with his rebounding and passing skills--All the pieces will be in place for a dynamic fast breaking team when needed.

Once he grows into his body and improves his foot speed and his strength in the weight room.. He'll be a mismatch nightmare for opposing teams.

2 down -2 to go for 2022.

Karaban and a guard? I’m assuming Flip is long gone

 

[CTFIRERETIRED]

Hmm, best player in the CIAC? Why does that not excite me.

 

[Brochacho]

Love to have Clingan. Lot of developing to do but at his size he can be a game breaking player.

Hoping we add Karaban and Epps (solely to laugh at Providence).

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

You mean like I tell my Grandkids I once got in a pick up game against Calvin Murphy?

If Calvin Murphy went to UConn

 

[CTMike]

Hmm, best player in the CIAC? Why does that not excite me.

Lol because your entire posting history is shatting on all things UConn. Be more miserable, you can’t.

 

[MTBingNinja]

There is 0% he’ll redshirt. Kids a stud. This is not to say that he’ll be as impactful
As Dickinson was at Michigan, but he seems like a very similar player. Very intelligent, great passing big who can let the game come
To him

Excellent. Can’t wait to see him play. Been pulling for him like many others. I live 15 minutes from BCHS, missed his live games last year due to COVID. Looking forward to watching him develop during his senior year and beyond. Team Hurley getting the job done

 

[NYtoCT]

Not really feeling this pickup too much after hearing reports that he is slow and unathletic white guy who can't shoot but I trust in Dan Hurley. Congrats DC on joining the family and I hope he hits the weight room big time. Is there a chance he red shirts his freshman year to develop more with strength and quickness?

Hey Buzz, welcome to the thread

 

[GG]

Welcome to UCONN DC!

 

[jibsey]

So in HS he doesn't need the footwork and skill to score that he will against bigger players here. How many slow white big men torched us in the past? You can't teach his height and size. Hasn't even developed through his senior year, in 16 months how much more muscle will he have? Could be a lot.

 

[temery]

I think I've heard of this kid.

 

[CL82]

Soooo he's a bigger Tyler Olander? I'm hoping the staff can coach him up to be a productive player for us.

I forget, how many national championships did Tyler Olander win again?

(But he’s not Tyler. As a high school kid he has better footwork and is a better finisher.)

 

[RichZ]

Sanogo can get up and down the court pretty darn well for a guy his size. Johnson has a full court motor, too. I don't think the fast break will suffer much when they are on the court. It going to come down to if they buy into Hurley's defense and executing it. Great defense is often the key for a team that likes to run.
Taliek could start a fast break off an inbounds play, and Scheffer with pretty 60 foot lob passes could do so also. Unless you have a guy like that, it's good defense that will get your guys out and running.

But nobody can start fast breaks like a big man who brings down every defensive rebound with his eyes scanning down court and his arm cocked. It's gotta be instinctive. Like Unseld and Russell.

 

[Exit 4]

Pulling in Clingan is huge....if for none other reason than for saving us from the psychological damage had such a talented kid decided to leave the state and pass on the momentum Hurley has building.

Excited to see what happens next.

 

[CL82]

Sorry to have my first negative opinion on a Hurley recruit. I'll make sure to puff nothing but sunshine and rainbows on everybody to help you feel better.

Wow, that was right out of the troll handbook.

 

[RichZ]

You mean like I tell my Grandkids I once got in a pick up game against Calvin Murphy?

I once SAW him in a pickup game when he was like 14 or 15, and he was playing against college kids. Maybe not high level level college kids, but still. The thing that stood out to me was that he could could dribble like a globetrotter -- weave through the defense without ever mishandling or losing the ball.

 

[MuchoDogYears]

Hmm, best player in the CIAC? Why does that not excite me.

I'll take the bait. Right, "best player in the CIAC" is impressive , but not what one would call "exciting".

"MOST DOMINANT player in at least THE LAST 15 YEARS in the CIAC" is kind of ^%&**%$ exciting.

 

[RichZ]

Or, you thinking that you have your pulse on limitations that the staffs of at least four normally ranked programs missed is such a ludicrous proposition that maybe you’d show restraint in sharing that “opinion.” Even if it is an honest one.

Vicious. Accurate, but vicious nonetheless.

 

[aburks41]

Pulling in Clingan is huge....if for none other reason than for saving us from the psychological damage had such a talented kid decided to leave the state and pass on the momentum Hurley has building.

Excited to see what happens next.

And now he can point to Karaban and say if you commit you will be creating the #1 recruiting class in the country

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Soooo he's a bigger Tyler Olander? I'm hoping the staff can coach him up to be a productive player for us.

If Tyler Olander had Clingan’s size, he would have been a very strong college player.

 

[UConnKev]

 

[the Q]

If Tyler Olander had Clingan’s size, he would have been a very strong college player.

This.

Tyler could’ve balled at some mid major and been a reasonably good college player like his brother

But if he had his brothers size (or DC’s) our view of him would be wildly different

 

[Ricker]

Just a couple points.

Give me a big that holds position, rebounds, passes, sets screens, and makes free throws. We won a National Championship with Voskuhl just playing to strengths that complimented team play with other athletes.

With years to improve, Clingan's highlights show he can make moves and finish around the basket, he can make an occasional 3, and he can pass. We aren't evaluating a finished product, so I'll take what he can do now is a great starting point in my view.

Clingan has said when he was 6'7 to 6'8 he was an 80% foul shooter. He takes pride at the line in respect to his mother who stressed foul shooting. With his last growth spirt his release point changed and he is trying and will find his way back to high FT %. He hates missing free throws and will get to the line a bunch.

Belittling being the best player in the CIAC is looking to find fault. In Pittsburgh with a huge number of other top highly ranked prospects, he was MVP of the whole deal. Why shouldn't that accolade stand for potential. He might not be as dominate vs certain team matchups and styles, but being MVP from the center position vs all other bigs, and all the top guards with the ball in their hands, is an actual accomplishment that says potential, not redshirt.

As a teammate others will get open when he is double teamed and Clingan will find them cutting or spotting up.

The downside initially will be getting 2 quick fouls because of contact with small guys bouncing off him, and, because he likely will reach when quicker guys are near him. Sanogo couldn't stay in the game early in the season, and that will be true until Clingan develops. Hurley will have to keep him in the paint defensively which is contrary to Hurley's DNA. An off the ball rim protector like Akok is something that Clingan will suffer early on until his game grows.

My views are somewhat shaped by other players like Hunter Dickenson, Big Country, Pittsnogle, Azebuke, The Morris Mountain, etc. There is no reason to believe that he will not be as impactful in his own mix of ways. All these guys had some shortcomings that needed to be overcome by coaching schemes, and, strengths to be exploited. I do expect a rough start until conditioning is top notch, fouling is controlled, and he learns how to deal with the speed and leaping ability of other 6'10 and taller rim protectors.

I should also say at Hoophall I watched guard Doron Lamb prevent top rated Ohio State/NBA bound Jared Sullinger from scoring even 1 basket in a whole game. He got 1 point from the line in the last minute of the game but couldn't deal with the quick hands and quickness of a smaller player. It happens to good players.

Now it will be up to the staff to make him the best Donovan Clingan he can be.

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[Chin Diesel]

To be fair, isn't that common for most recruits to say when they commit to a school?

Generally speaking recruits commit to a place that feels most comfortable to them?

It's nice to see it associated with UConn and Hurley and his staff, but this should be expected, no?

 

[NJHoops]

This staff is VERY honest with players, even during the recruitment process. Donovan knows exactly what he has to work on and improve to be successful at the college level. Most bigs take time. I hope people will be patient but also happy he’s here- the staff and his future teammates are.

 

[UConnKev]

 

[microfich]

I've had the chance to watch him play in person a couple of times. He really dominates the paint area at the high school level with his 7'1" frame. Obviously the collegiate level is a whole new ball game but will be interesting to see how he blossoms up at Storrs.

Can't remember the last Bristol Central player that UConn MBB got - proud alum today!

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I remember being bummed at losing Malcolm Huckaby to BCHS. He became a great BE player.
Donovan's game a bit of a throwback. This will be fun.

 

[Waquoit]

Two things Clingan does very well: rebound and pass. Rebound the ball, outlet to a guard who is running down the court. Team scores before he gets to half court. There's your fast break.

Bill Walton comp?