[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2024 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Donovan Clingan
Frame: 7’2″, 280 lbs
Position: Center
Team: Connecticut Huskies
2024 Draft Age: 20
Stats via www.sports-reference.com

Offense

Clingan acts as a rim runner on the offensive side of the ball. He does a great job using his overwhelming size to nail guard defenders when setting ball screens in the pick-and-roll. This creates a clear advantage for his offense, as he has a two-on-one situation (he and the team’s ball-handler against Clingan’s defender). 

While Clingan isn’t a vertical threat (he’s flat-footed), his frame allows him to catch passes that may be off-target and finish them. His size bodes him well on the offensive glass, where he can clean up his misses or teammates—having averaged 2.5 offensive rebounds with an offensive rebound percentage of 13.8 percent. During the season, Clingan shot 70.1 percent on 224 attempts while being assisted with 73.2 percent of these shots. He also finished 48 of 52 dunk attempts, according to www.barttorvik.com. 

A considerable part of Clingan’s game is his connective passing. Despite only averaging 1.5 assists per game, with an assist percentage of 13.4 percent, he is a gifted passer for his size with great vision. Dan Hurley and the Huskies often used Clingan as a hub for their guards. Clingan displayed several beautiful backdoor passes or threading needles to incoming cutters with his right hand. He has excellent timing with his passes and sometimes delivers the ball exactly where it needs to be before the receiving player even gets to the spot. He also flashes his playmaking in the short roll, where he gets the ball to open men in the corner in a hurry if the shot is there or hits players cutting baseline for an easy finish. 

Clingan’s prowess as a rollman is made stronger by the presence of a push shot or floater, which he uses occasionally. He typically goes to this shot as a last resort if a better quality shot isn’t available, but he has a soft touch with his right hand. If his defender is giving him space or sitting on him to prioritize protecting the rim, Clingan has no problem getting the shot up. During the season, he shot 45.8 percent on 59 attempts while being assisted by 55.6 percent on these specific shot types.

The glaring weakness in Clingan’s game is his general free-throw and perimeter shooting. He has shot 58.3 percent on 139 attempts at the free throw line and 25.0 percent on eight three-point attempts. Clingan’s size makes it more difficult for him to maintain a consistent form from shot to shot, which is evident in his free throw mechanics, which vary from shot to shot. Sometimes, while following through, he immediately drops his guide hand and shoots almost one-handed; other times, he shoots the ball seemingly from behind his head. He will have to iron out these mechanics and develop a consistent routine not to become a liability at the line in the NBA.

Defense

Clingan’s calling card has always been with his rim protection, as he is handily the best in this draft class, bar none. Operating as a drop big, Clingan has excellent timing on contests at the rim, using all of his 7’6″ wingspan to pin shots right before they hit the rim. He goes up vertically and keeps his hands up, which helps him avoid foul calls, and he has only averaged 2.0 fouls per game this past season. He can use both hands to contest shots, frequently forcing defenders to try reverse layups and then bringing down his left hand for another stop. Clingan also does a great job keeping incoming drivers in front of him. Whenever players try to bump him to create space, he will take a step away from the player, allowing him to react without fouling a second or two. His length can make up the difference, and Clingan has relatively quick feet around the rim. He does a good job matching up with similar-sized big men, using his strength to bang with them in the post and alter their shots. He averaged 2.5 blocks with an 11.4 block percentage this season.

Outside of the paint, Clingan does tend to struggle due to his slower foot speed and lumbering size. It is difficult for him to guard out in space and keep up with quicker players. As a result, he is unable to play in more versatile schemes. He can’t come up to the level of a ball screen to play defense or switch onto opposing ball handlers in pick-and-roll situations. It will be necessary to monitor how his footspeed carries over to the next level and how much success opposing teams have had in space.

Looking Ahead

Clingan is a player with a high floor at the NBA level; he will offer quality rim protection, connective playmaking, and rim finishing from day one. There isn’t necessarily a clear path to stardom for Clingan, but he projects as a quality rotation significant and likely starter for the duration of his career. His mobility and free throw shooting will be his main detriments, which he must address moving forward. 

Clingan is a likely top-10 pick in the upcoming 2024 NBA draft, with a chance to be selected in the top five or even higher. He is expected to be a quality rotation big or fringe starter, with the upside of being one of the better centers in the association.