2022 Recruiting: Donovan Clingan

[BCF]

I hate what AAU and preps have done to high school basketball. Class S had some D1 players back in the day. It’s a shame. CT high school basketball used to be excellent at all levels.

It is a shame what the CIAC has done to themselves. The prep leagues offer better coaching, more exposure, and a shot clock. Prep schools start their seasons in November. More opportunity to see the kids versus the CIAC when college coaches are playing games. Also prep showcases provide college coaches to see several kids in a day versus ciac where they would only have the opportunity to see 1 kid a day. Team better spend at prep showcases for college coaches. Sorry, but the CIAC stuck in the old times. They do not do a good enough job showcasing players. Too many bad teams. It is easy to see why good players leave the ciac for prep. Also, Clingman plays on a team where he is the only D1 player playing against 6'3 centers. Why in the world would he stay 2 more years in the CIAC. It just doesn't benefit him.

 

[husky429]

It is a shame what the CIAC has done to themselves. The prep leagues offer better coaching, more exposure, and a shot clock. Prep schools start their seasons in November. More opportunity to see the kids versus the CIAC when college coaches are playing games. Also prep showcases provide college coaches to see several kids in a day versus ciac where they would only have the opportunity to see 1 kid a day. Team better spend at prep showcases for college coaches. Sorry, but the CIAC stuck in the old times. They do not do a good enough job showcasing players. Too many bad teams. It is easy to see why good players leave the ciac for prep. Also, Clingman plays on a team where he is the only D1 player playing against 6'3 centers. Why in the world would he stay 2 more years in the CIAC. It just doesn't benefit him.

CIAC is a disaster. I'll stay out of the prep debate. But the coaching does legitimately stink.

I have scouted easily 60 teams in the state. Many multiple times. I watch about 30 games a year excluding fresh/jv/varsity for my own teams. There are many, many coaches in BIG towns who spend 0 time om skill work or shooting. Or play 2-3 zone only. And have no offensive identity. What exactly are you doing in practice then?

Or put 6 kids on a freshman team and wonder why there's only 3 seniors a few years later.

There are also significant issues with coaches instigating and condoning terrible behavior from players. Parent I know said just last night that at Rocky Hill vs. Ellington, the Ellington team needed an escort to the bus from cops because of some idiotic behavior from Rocky Hill kids and coach doing nothing right at the end of the game bc they lost a close game. I hear about this stuff and worse ALL THE TIME

So glad I'm out of CIAC.

Edit: just to be fair this isn't exclusive to CT. Our coach development in the USA from 5th-grade to college stinks.

 

[BCF]

CIAC is a disaster. I'll stay out of the prep debate. But the coaching does legitimately stink.

I have scouted easily 60 teams in the state. Many multiple times. I watch about 30 games a year excluding fresh/jv/varsity for my own teams. There are many, many coaches in BIG towns who spend 0 time om skill work or shooting. Or play 2-3 zone only. And have no offensive identity. What exactly are you doing in practice then?

Or put 6 kids on a freshman team and wonder why there's only 3 seniors a few years later.

There are also significant issues with coaches instigating and condoning terrible behavior from players. Parent I know said just last night that at Rocky Hill vs. Ellington, the Ellington team needed an escort to the bus from cops because of some idiotic behavior from Rocky Hill kids and coach doing nothing right at the end of the game bc they lost a close game. I hear about this stuff and worse ALL THE TIME

So glad I'm out of CIAC.

There are handful of good coaches in the CIAC. But, the majority of them are teachers looking to increase their paycheck. Spend zero time getting better. I go to about 60 prep/ciac games year. I enjoy the prep game more. From the coaching, to the players, and shot clock it is a better and more entertaining game. This year doing less ciac and more prep. Each time I go to a ciac game i regret it.

 

[husky429]

There are handful of good coaches in the CIAC. But, the majority of them are teachers looking to increase their paycheck. Spend zero time getting better. I go to about 60 prep/ciac games year. I enjoy the prep game more. From the coaching, to the players, and shot clock it is a better and more entertaining game. This year doing less ciac and more prep. Each time I go to a ciac game i regret it.

Plenty of good coaches in the CIAC of course. Less and less coaches ARE teachers. That I know for sure. That's a big part of the problem imo. Guys that don't know how to control kids, create good relationships with them, break down skills, etc. can't teach ball. Bball knowledge is useless if you can't teach it. And TBH this isn't a complicated game... if you're open-minded and willing to listen.

 

[Huskyblood]

There are handful of good coaches in the CIAC. But, the majority of them are teachers looking to increase their paycheck. Spend zero time getting better. I go to about 60 prep/ciac games year. I enjoy the prep game more. From the coaching, to the players, and shot clock it is a better and more entertaining game. This year doing less ciac and more prep. Each time I go to a ciac game i regret it.

My daughter played at a prep school and I watched many boys games. Wouldn’t necessarily say coaching is better. I have seen a lot who are very ineffective. Why can’t Sid shoot a basketball? And he came from the top program in the country. There are good and bad coaches in both places (I coach football and girls basketball in CT). CIAC does itself no favors by not allowing coaches to work with players in offseason (plenty would) and no shot clock.

 

[the Q]

CIAC is a disaster. I'll stay out of the prep debate. But the coaching does legitimately stink.

I have scouted easily 60 teams in the state. Many multiple times. I watch about 30 games a year excluding fresh/jv/varsity for my own teams. There are many, many coaches in BIG towns who spend 0 time om skill work or shooting. Or play 2-3 zone only. And have no offensive identity. What exactly are you doing in practice then?

Or put 6 kids on a freshman team and wonder why there's only 3 seniors a few years later.

There are also significant issues with coaches instigating and condoning terrible behavior from players. Parent I know said just last night that at Rocky Hill vs. Ellington, the Ellington team needed an escort to the bus from cops because of some idiotic behavior from Rocky Hill kids and coach doing nothing right at the end of the game bc they lost a close game. I hear about this stuff and worse ALL THE TIME

So glad I'm out of CIAC.

Edit: just to be fair this isn't exclusive to CT. Our coach development in the USA from 5th-grade to college stinks.

Ironically, my senior year my team got a police escort out of Ellington because they lost the game at the buzzer after a wild finish.

 

[husky429]

Ironically, my senior year my team got a police escort out of Ellington because they lost the game at the buzzer after a wild finish.

What goes around comes around!

 

[cohenzone]

Putting up those numbers against a public school whose tallest player is 6’2’’ says nothing about how well he would do against college competition down the road. How is this difficult?

The tallest kid, about 6’7, on my hs team,a good program, sucked. Couldn’t see the floor. Obviously this kid has some ability. He needs challenging competition, but he must be not just big.

 

[Hoophound]

It is a shame what the CIAC has done to themselves. The prep leagues offer better coaching, more exposure, and a shot clock. Prep schools start their seasons in November. More opportunity to see the kids versus the CIAC when college coaches are playing games. Also prep showcases provide college coaches to see several kids in a day versus ciac where they would only have the opportunity to see 1 kid a day. Team better spend at prep showcases for college coaches. Sorry, but the CIAC stuck in the old times. They do not do a good enough job showcasing players. Too many bad teams. It is easy to see why good players leave the ciac for prep. Also, Clingman plays on a team where he is the only D1 player playing against 6'3 centers. Why in the world would he stay 2 more years in the CIAC. It just doesn't benefit him.

That’s one view but this all started with the AAU circuit finding business opportunities. They grew the travel teams, made the commitment level really high and in time degraded high school ball. It’s too bad because the atmosphere at a high school game blows away the environment of an AAU tourney.

 

[Edward Sargent]

That’s one view but this all started with the AAU circuit finding business opportunities. They grew the travel teams, made the commitment level really high and in time degraded high school ball. It’s too bad because the atmosphere at a high school game blows away the environment of an AAU tourney.

I grew up in Norwalk during the Calvin Murphy era. You either went to every one of his games or you listened on the radio. I was so excited when we brought in Steven Enoch. A lot of what is being said applies to public schools in general.

 

[Kenny11]

1. CIAC is behind the times and has screwed themselves. That is completely accurate

2. it would still show a lot if Clingan could lead his team to even contend for a conference tournament championship (he probably won’t) which shows that there is some talent in the state.

3. East Catholic just easily beat the number one ranked team from Massachusetts so the same issues the CIAC has, a lot of if not all other states have too.

4. Nothing beats the excitement, craziness in the gym at a big high school game between rival towns or schools. Prep school still doesn’t compare to this. I’ve seen prep games with multiple D1 players on the court with a lifeless crowd of just a few people.

 

[BCF]

1. CIAC is behind the times and has screwed themselves. That is completely accurate

2. it would still show a lot if Clingan could lead his team to even contend for a conference tournament championship (he probably won’t) which shows that there is some talent in the state.

3. East Catholic just easily beat the number one ranked team from Massachusetts so the same issues the CIAC has, a lot of if not all other states have too.

4. Nothing beats the excitement, craziness in the gym at a big high school game between rival towns or schools. Prep school still doesn’t compare to this. I’ve seen prep games with multiple D1 players on the court with a lifeless crowd of just a few people.

Crazyiness and rivals doesn't equal good basketball. Yes the atmosphere is better in high school for rival games. But the majority of the games are empty gyms as well. Plus the play is awful. Poor offensive sets. Bad defense. Turnover. Missed shots. Not to mention the shot clock. Nothing worse than the ciac where teams start holding the ball with 5 minutes left in the game.

 

[HanDurley]

Went to see Clingan tonight vs Wolcott. Tallest kid on the other team was probably 6’0 at best. First half they looked to throw the ball into him consistently and he showed good one dribble power moves to the right. Defensively he was blocking any layup attempt and the other team stopped taking any shots inside the arc. Second half the team didn’t look inside very much but the other team was overmatched. Overall a performance you would expect watching a 7 footer play in the CCC.

Good analysis, had some friends go and say the same thing.

 

[FanMan]

Not bad

 

[FanMan]

Ugh, trying to share a tweet. Don't know how

 

[jdb50]

He would have fouled out in the AAC just based on the highlights. LOL

 

[navery12]

 

[FanMan]

That's the one

 

[The Viking]

Would love to see this kid stay in state.

 

[Austin316]

this was a rivalry game and the swag level was high... and I don’t mind it despite the astounding height advantage he has lol

 

[Rewster]

Think he plays East Catholic 1/30

 

[uconnbill]

CIAC needs a shot clock, period. It would make the games more enjoyable and help with development of the talent that is in the state. Just my opinion

 

[Watchdog]

Would love to see this kid stay in state.

You mean like at CCSU or Hartford?

 

[FanMan]

Lol, he had 28 last night. 100% field goal percentage. Didn't play the 4th quarter.

 

[BCF]

Lol, he had 28 last night. 100% field goal percentage. Didn't play the 4th quarter.

Exactly why he should go prep next year.