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Donovan Clingan Unveils Family-Inspired Look During 2024 NBA Draft

Posted on by angelo
Donovan Clingan Unveils Family-Inspired Look During 2024 NBA Draft

UConn star Donovan Clingan arrived at the Barclays Center in style ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft.

The 7-foot-2 center, expected to be a top-three pick in Wednesday night’s draft, looked dapper in a tuxedo and classic bow tie, with the lining of his jacket featuring a sentimental touch to the interior: a collage of family photos. .

“I just wanted to have pictures of the people who helped me get here, the people who guided me, inside my jacket,” Clingan said on the red carpet, according to CT Insider.

Donovan Clingan shows off his jacket at the Barclays Center for the first round of the 2024 NBA draft. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

“Just me and my mom, someone who was really special to me and someone I lost…I just wanted her to be a special moment of the day.”

The former Huskies star lost his mother Stacey to breast cancer in 2018.

Donovan Clingan on the red carpet of the 2024 NBA Draft on June 26, 2024. Getty Images

Ahead of Wednesday’s draft, the Connecticut native said he attributes much of his success and motivation to his home state.

“Connecticut has given me a lot my whole life. This gave me great opportunities. It has blessed me with the career I have had so far. They’ve given me a lot of support and a lot of love,” Clingan said Tuesday during a pre-news briefing in Midtown.

“I just want to be able to give back one day, so I’m just going to keep working to reach the highest level and be the best player and the best person I can be.”

The inside of his jacket reflects this unequivocally.

UConn center Donovan Clingan, celebrating after his victory against Purdue in the 2024 NCAA College Final Four championship. P.A.
UConn basketball players Jaylin Stewart, Alex Karaban, Donovan Clingan and Tristen Newton sit on stage with the national championship trophy. Connor Linskey / USA TODAY NETWORK

Clingan went to UConn after an impressive high school career at Bristol Central High School, where he set a school record of 2,268 career points, ranking seventh all-time in state history.

The 20-year-old was poised to be a potential selection in the 2023 NBA Draft, but decided to return to UConn for his sophomore season.

Follow the New York Post live tracker for up-to-date coverage and analysis of the 2024 NBA Draft picks.

The center played in 35 games last season for the Huskies, averaging 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.5 blocks in 22.5 minutes per game.

UConn head coach Dan Hurley, senior center Donovan Clingan during the 2024 NCAA Semifinal game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
UConn Huskies Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle celebrate winning the 2024 NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Getty Images

The Huskies won their second straight championship in 2024 under head coach Dan Hurley, who recently rejected the Lakers’ six-year, $70 million offer.

While the Post’s recent mock draft sees the Atlanta Hawks select French star Zaccharie Risacher No. 1 overall, Clingan has also been mentioned as a contender for the No. 1 overall pick.

The first round of the 2024 NBA Draft begins at 8 p.m. from Brooklyn.