Donovan Clingan

Donovan John Clingan (born February 23, 2004) is an American college basketball player for the UConn Huskies of the Big East Conference.

Early life and high school career

Clingan grew up in Bristol, Connecticut, and was a standout Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball player for Joseph Chatman on Team Spartans in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Clingan attended Bristol Central High School where he averaged 27.3 points, 17.2 rebounds, and 5.8 blocks per game as a junior and was named the Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year. Clingan repeated as the Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 30.3 points, 18.4 rebounds, and 6.2 blocks per game during his senior season. On July 2, 2021, he committed to playing college basketball for UConn over offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Georgetown, Syracuse, Providence, and Rutgers.

Clingan grew up and is close friends with current UConn Huskies football running back Victor Rosa. Rosa was Clingan's point guard in high school, and was a record-breaking football player as well.

College career

Clingan entered his freshman season at UConn as the Huskies' backup center behind Adama Sanogo. He was named to the Big East Conference All-Freshman team at the end of the regular season. Clingan scored four points with three rebounds, a block, and two steals in the 2023 national championship game as the Huskies won 76–59. Although he was considered to be a likely selection in the 2023 NBA draft, he decided to return to UConn for his sophomore season.

Clingan entered his sophomore year as UConn's starting center.

Career statistics

College

Personal life

Clingan's mother, Stacey Clingan, also played basketball at Bristol Central where she set school records for career rebounds and blocks before playing college basketball at the University of Maine. Stacey Clingan died of breast cancer in 2018.