How excellent March Madness showing impacted Donovan Clingan's draft stock

Connecticut Huskies center Donovan Clingan.

Donovan Clingan’s draft stock is skyrocketing after the center helped UConn become the first team to repeat as national champions since the 2006-07 Florida Gators.

In his latest mock draft, Kyle Boone of CBS Sports has the Portland Trail Blazers selecting Clingan with the fifth overall pick.

“Clingan — known affectionately by UConn fans as ‘Cling Kong’ — is a monster on the defensive side of the floor whose timing and anticipation on that end has changed the trajectory for the reigning champion Huskies,” wrote Boone. “He’s gone from surefire lottery pick to potential No. 1 overall.”

In the NCAA Tournament, Clingan showcased his elite size (7-foot-2, 280 pounds) and shot-blocking ability. Against Illinois in the Elite Eight, the Fighting Illini went 0-of-19 on shots contested by the big man.

Even though Clingan had one block in the national championship against Purdue, ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony pointed out on X that his 7-foot-7 wingspan affected several shots inside the arc. As a result, the Boilermakers shot 44.4% from the field in the 75-60 loss.

This is one reason Givony recently compared him to a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

“His defense is starting to make teams think this guy could be another version of [Timberwolves center] Rudy Gobert,” Givony said Monday on “NBA Today.” “He’s very mobile stepping out to the perimeter. He’s a multiple-effort defender around the basket, and he’s just impossible to score on with his wingspan.”

Clingan, 20, must improve his shooting to maximize his impact in the NBA. In two seasons with the Huskies, he’s 2-of-9 from beyond the arc and has only made 55.8% of his free-throw attempts.

Still, Clingan could become an outstanding defender at the next level, and the two-time national champion has cemented his status as a potential lottery pick.

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