University of Connecticut Athletics
2023-24 Men's Basketball Roster
Donovan Clingan
- Position:
- Center
- Height:
- 7-2
- Weight:
- 280
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Bristol, Conn.
- Prev School:
- Bristol Central
- High School:
- Bristol Central HS
2024 BIG EAST All-Conference Honorable Mention
2024 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Midseason Watch List
2024 NCAA East Region Most Outstanding Player
2024 NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team
2023-24:
- NCAA East Region Most Outstanding Player
- NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team
- BIG EAST All-Conference Honorable Mention
- Appeared in 35 contests, averaging 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.5 blocks in 22.5 minutes per game
- Recorded six double-doubles, including a pair in the NCAA Tournament
- Scored 20 or more points four times and had at least 15 on 13 occasions
- Shot 63.9 percent from the field
- Posted a career-high 29 points on 12-of-13 shooting vs. New Hampshire (Nov. 27)
- Scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds against No. 10 Gonzaga (Dec. 15)
- Went for 18 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks against Butler (Feb., 6)
- Shot 7-of-8 from the floor in a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double against No. 4 Marquette (Feb. 17)
- Needed only 23 minutes to record 19 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks vs. Seton Hall (March 3)
- Posted a historic 22-point, 16-rebound double-double in the BIG EAST Tournament title game against Marquette (March 16)
- Set a UConn single-game NCAA Tournament record with eight blocks and added 14 points and 14 rebounds in the NCAA Second Round vs. Northwestern (March 24)
- Had 22 points and 10 rebounds with five blocked shots in 22 minutes vs. Illinois in the Elite Eight (March 30)
While At UConn: Had tremendous impact from Game 1 through Game 39 in 2022-23… Combined with Final Four MOP Adama Sanogo to give UConn a devastating 1-2 punch at center… Named MVP of the 2022 Phil Knight Invitational Tournament after recording a double-double in championship game… Named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week twice… Named to BIG EAST All-Freshman Team… Receiving national recognition as he heads into his sophomore season…Will likely take over as UConn’s starting center with most predicting a breakout season
As a Freshman in 2022-23: Appeared in all 39 games for the Huskies, averaging 6.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 blocks per game, while shooting .655 overall… Holds UConn record for career field goal percentage (.655), third-highest single season mark (.655)… Had four double-doubles, including career highs of 21 points (vs. LIU) and 11 rebounds (vs. LIU and Providence)… Had 10 double-figure scoring games.
Before College: Highly-coveted big man known not only for his great size, but for his agility, footwork, improving outside shooting touch and his passing ability… Unselfish player dedicated to working hard on his game every day with a goal of being the top big man in the country… Consensus Top 50 recruit… Came to UConn after spectacular high school career at Bristol (Conn.) Central High School under Coach Tim Barrette… Scored a school record 2,268 career points, which ranks seventh all-time in state history, and also set school records for career rebounds and blocked shots… As a senior, averaged 30.3 points, 18.4 rebounds and 6.2 blocks as he led Central to a 28-0 record, the Central Conn. Conference Championship and the Connecticut Division II State Championship… As a junior, averaged 27.3 points, 17.2 rebounds and 5.8 blocks as he led Central to a 15-0 record and the Central Conn. Conference Championship (state tournament was canceled due to Covid-19)… Set Bristol Central single-game records with 51 points, 31 rebounds in a game… Two-time Gatorade Connecticut State Player of the Year… Two-time Max Preps Connecticut High School Player of the Year… Three-time Central Connecticut Conference Player of the Year… MVP of both Conn. High School Coaches Association Boys Basketball Festival and the Robert Saulsbury All-Star Game… Played AAU ball for the Boston Spartans.
Personal Information: Donovan John Clingan … Born February 23, 2004… Son of Bill and the late Stacey Porrini Clingan… Has one younger sister, Olivia… Mom Stacey, who passed away of breast cancer in March, 2018, was an outstanding three-sport, all-conference athlete (basketball, swimming, track) at Bristol Central and a basketball star at the University of Maine… Donovan wears jersey No. 32 in her honor… Maintained a 3.5 GPA at Bristol Central .. Besides basketball, loves to fish… Volunteers as a coach at the Boys & Girls Club of Bristol.
