Interesting article - Donovan Clingan | The Boneyard

Interesting article - Donovan Clingan

Fantastic story. Seems like a great kid, with a level of maturity many in high school lack. Is there no prep school close enough to Bristol?
 
HuskyHawk said:
Fantastic story. Seems like a great kid, with a level of maturity many in high school lack. Is there no prep school close enough to Bristol?
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Much of the article reported on the family connection to Bristol Central and the Bristol community. So, your first question is where is the nearest prep school.
 
QDOG5 said:
Much of the article reported on the family connection to Bristol Central and the Bristol community. So, your first question is where is the nearest prep school.
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Yes, because his dad is clearly struggling with the fact that Bristol Central isn't ideal for him. Yet the family connection is so vital they don't want to "send him away". He needs to be home not at a boarding school. And yes he wants to break his mom's records, but if there was a prep school close enough he could commute, that might be the best result for them. He could still be near friends and family.
 
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I'm hardly an expert on development of 15 year old bigs as a basketball player. But does it really set back his development that much staying in public high school as long as he's playing AAU ball at the right level? You play far more AAU games than high school games if you're any good? Isn't there a chance that a somewhat slower development would be compensated for by staying in a comfortable environment and not risking burning out on basketball if his top priority is (justifiably) family?
 
businesslawyer said:
I'm hardly an expert on development of 15 year old bigs as a basketball player. But does it really set back his development that much staying in public high school as long as he's playing AAU ball at the right level? You play far more AAU games than high school games if you're any good? Isn't there a chance that a somewhat slower development would be compensated for by staying in a comfortable environment and not risking burning out on basketball if his top priority is (justifiably) family?
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The theory is he would practice each day against high level competition and improve more than in AAU where you are pretty much showcasing skills you already have acquired.
Also, as is brought up in the article, at Bristol Central he gets plenty of attention on the court and off the court and it's not always good attention. At a prep school he is one of many instead of being the only one.
 
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Terrific article. A horrible loss to the family and world. It's very likely Donovan would have been a class act anyways but the tragedy has strengthened his resolve. Would love to see him land at UConn just based on his character. And making foul shots do win games. And lose them when they are missed.
 
HuskyHawk said:
Fantastic story. Seems like a great kid, with a level of maturity many in high school lack. Is there no prep school close enough to Bristol?
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There are a lot within a short drive, but they aren't necessarily basketball factories.
 
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Great article. Kid is going to be a legend when he leaves. I hope everything works out and he continues to not allow distractions to affect his mental game. It’s hard when you are in HS, even harder when you lose your mother.
 
uconnfan68 said:
There are a lot within a short drive, but they aren't necessarily basketball factories.
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That is what I figured. I wasn't questioning his commitment to Bristol and his family, which is admirable. Was just wondering if there was a win-win solution out there.

Well one thing he is going to be very good with is not bringing the ball down, and obviously FTs. He's getting swarmed by multiple smaller defenders every time. Looks like he's taking at least two fouls in that picture.
 
HuskyHawk said:
That is what I figured. I wasn't questioning his commitment to Bristol and his family, which is admirable. Was just wondering if there was a win-win solution out there.

Well one thing he is going to be very good with is not bringing the ball down, and obviously FTs. He's getting swarmed by multiple smaller defenders every time. Looks like he's taking at least two fouls in that picture.
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Cheshire Academy is close. Maybe 25 mins. The best close basketball-centric school is probably PSA. Hour or so away
 
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BFieldHusky said:
Another kid who is not a fan of Boeheim. At all.

It's a ways out but we are the leader here for many reasons.
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I have yet to hear of a kid who DOES like Boeheim. Even for the kids who do commit. The assistants are doing every bit of heavy lifting. The dude is just unpleasant. And I grew up a Cuse fan (dont hate me my dad lives up there).
 
It's not a huge leap to speculate that if the kid wants to stay at Bristol Central for his high school career that he'd keep those same values and want to stay close for college. It's always fun to have local kids on the team. Hopefully it works out.
 
Easy answer........break all the school records by the end of your junior year and then find a good prep school. Seriously though, there is so much pressure to try to make kids grow up way too fast. I can't imagine being the dad and taking all these calls from prep schools and AAU coaches essentially telling him that sending your kid away from home is what is best for him. Especially when the dad is still dealing with the loss of his wife and his kid's mom. Time has a funny way of making these decisions much easier.

Seeing up close how Hurley handled the Akok situation has to hit home with Clingan and family.
 
businesslawyer said:
I'm hardly an expert on development of 15 year old bigs as a basketball player. But does it really set back his development that much staying in public high school as long as he's playing AAU ball at the right level? You play far more AAU games than high school games if you're any good? Isn't there a chance that a somewhat slower development would be compensated for by staying in a comfortable environment and not risking burning out on basketball if his top priority is (justifiably) family?
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There were some really good basketball players from CT back in the day when prep school wasn't even thought of. It's all about coaching and even in prep school look at what we get sometimes, they learn very little and sometimes are fundamentally weak anyway. Hey it's better competition no denying that but it's up to the family and what the full story is. This one needs to be what it is, family staying close. A solid AAU summer schedule and back to Bristol Central he'll be a good kid, a solid player and eventually a very good player no matter.

Family #1....play for the Rams see you in fall '22 young man and dad!
 
Listening to Coach Hurley's radio show tonight...he gets it. Calhoun would struggle with 2020 athletes. The social media, the pressure, etc. Hurley's style is to beat you up in practice, but be a supporter on game day. You can agree or disagree with it, but like he said, its a different generation than it was even ten years ago.

This is why we are running circles around a program like Syracuse. Boeheim is 75 years old. He isn't changing. He throws his players under the bus publicly after games. This is one of the reasons Akok is here. Jackson too. Despite the fact that we got in the game later for both.

This is why Etienne and Clingan are turned off by him. The staff loves recruiting against Cuse. It's like shooting fish in a barrel.

Like at @superjohn said let's see if Dior Johnson comes to play for a 78 year old cranky coach. Maybe he is still coaching, maybe he is gone. It will continue to be the best thing going that he is still around.
 
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