Donovan Clingan poses for photos with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected in the first round by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
UConn coach Dan Hurley was on hand to see Clingan and fellow Husky Stephon Castle be taken in the first round.
The ESPN draft broadcast captured Clingan and Castle embracing after the latter was taken fourth overall by the Spurs.
Clingan said his mom, Stacey, who died in 2018 at 42 years old from breast cancer, was looking down on him Wednesday night.
“I’ve got my mom over here on my side at all times,” Clingan said, per the Associated Press. “She’s looking down at me. She’s smiling, and I know she’s proud.”
Clingan won two national titles with the Huskies during his collegiate career, and he averaged 13 points per game with 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks last season with UConn.
Donovan Clingan reacts after being drafted seventh overall by the Portland Trailblazers during the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Getty Images
The 20-year-old has played with a chip on a shoulder, carrying around the words that doubters had said to him in the past.
“It’s crazy,” Clingan told CT Insider this week . “I put a lot of hard work in. A lot of people doubted me, said I wouldn’t accomplish things because I didn’t go elsewhere, didn’t go to a different high school, I wasn’t getting anything done at UConn. It just motivates me to be a better player, a better person, keep going, learning. I’m not going to stop working, I’m going to continue to grow as a player.”
Clingan joined Purdue’s Zach Edey as one of the only two Division I players to finish their college careers with at least 400 points, 80 blocks and 50 assists.
UConn center Donovan Clingan, right, deflects a shot by Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (0) during the first half of an Elite 8 college basketball game in the men’s NCAA Tournament, March 30, 2024. AP
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