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UConn big man Donovan Clingan is headed to Rip City.
The 7-foot-2 center was taken with the seventh overall pick during Wednesday’s NBA draft by the Trail Blazers, where most mock drafts had him going.
There had been some chatter that Clingan could be taken No. 1 overall instead of Zaccharie Risacher of France, who ended up being picked by the Hawks to open up the night at Barclays.
Had Clingan been taken with the No. 1 overall pick, he would have been the first UConn men’s basketball player taken in the top spot.
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 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.
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.
Edey was taken two picks after Clingan with the No. 9 overall pick by the Grizzlies.
