Donovan Clingan: From UConn Star To NBA Breakout Talent
Discover how Donovan Clingan rose from college standout at UConn to a rising NBA star with the Portland Trail Blazers. Learn about his journey, stats, and why he’s a key player to watch in the league.
Jul 25, 202513.8K Shares204.1K Views
He stands at 7‑foot‑2 and is already drawing comparisons to NBA legends for his game-changing presence. A hometown hero from Bristol, Connecticut, he helped UConn win back‑to‑back national titles in 2023 and 2024, first as a key reserve and then as a dominant starter. Known as "Cling Kong," Clingan combines rebounding, rim protection, and efficient scoring, earning national recognition and a projected high NBA Draft pick. Off the court, he honors his late mother in everything he does, wearing her jersey number and giving back to his community.
Early Life
Donovan Clingangrew up in Bristol, Connecticut, and attended Bristol Central High School. As a junior in 2021–22, he averaged 27.3 points, 17.2 rebounds, 5.8 blocks, and 3.1 assists per game. That season he led his team to an undefeated 15–0 record and was named Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year, while scoring over 1,400 points and rebounding over 1,000 by that point in his career.
In his senior year, Clingan elevated his game further, averaging 30.3 points, 18.4 rebounds, and 6.2 blocks per game. He guided Bristol Central to a 28–0 record and captured the CIAC Division II state championship. Once again he earned Gatorade Connecticut Player of the Year honors and left as the school record holder in career points, rebounds, and blocks. His total of 2,268 career points ranked seventh in Connecticut history.
Clingan gathered attention from major colleges such as Michigan, Syracuse, Ohio State, Georgetown, Providence, Rutgers, and Michigan State. In July 2021, he committed to UConn, choosing to stay home instead of attending a prep school—demonstrating loyalty to his city and family legacy, including breaking records once held by his late mother at the same high school.
Off the court, Clingan showed strong work ethic. He often woke up before dawn to work out and even helped shovel driveways or landscape yards in Bristol for extra income, all while staying focused on basketball and school.
College Career
During his freshman year (2022–23), Clingan came off the bench behind Adama Sanogo and played in all 39 games. He averaged 6.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in just 13.1 minutes per game while shooting 65.5% from the field. He helped the Huskies win the 2023 NCAA title and earned a spot on the Big East All-Freshman team, also being named MVP of the Phil Knight Invitational Tournament.
In his sophomore season (2023–24), Clingan became UConn’s starting center. Over 35 games, he averaged 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks in 22.5 minutes per game, with a field goal percentage of 63.9%. He recorded six double-doubles—including a standout 22-point, 16-rebound performance in the Big East Tournament final—and set UConn’s NCAA Tournament single-game block record with eight blocks in a game against Northwestern. He was named NCAA East Region Most Outstanding Player and earned a spot on the Final Four All-Tournament Team.
Across both seasons, Clingan played in a total of 74 games, making 33 starts. He averaged 9.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game, with an eye-catching 64.5% overall shooting efficiency. He returned to UConn for his sophomore year despite being considered for the 2023 NBA Draft and was widely considered one of the top defensive centers in college basketball.
Professional Career
Donovan Clingan was picked seventh overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2024 NBA Draft. He signed with the team on July 4, 2024, and chose jersey number 23, since his college number was retired for a former player. Clingan played his first NBA game on October 23, 2024, against the Golden State Warriors.
During his rookie season, he appeared in 67 games and started in 37. He averaged 6.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game, shooting 53.9% from the field and 28.6% from three-point range. He led the team in rebounds and blocked shots per game, and was selected to the NBA All‑Rookie Second Team.
As the season progressed, Clingan's numbers improved significantly. In his first 28 games, he averaged 5.4 points and 5.9 rebounds, but in his final 28 games he moved into a larger role and posted 8.0 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. He also showed strong potential in blocking shots and rebounding per minute.
Blazers development coach Ryan Gomespraised Clingan as a future All-Star and a key building block for the franchise, highlighting his strong work ethic and progress over the season. Clingan’s advanced stats were among the league’s top: he ranked second in the NBA in blocks per 36 minutes and sixth in rebounds per minute, just behind elite defenders like Victor Wembanyama.
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