UConn Basketball Wins in Brooklyn… Again
It may be the off-season for most college programs, but Wednesday night was a historic one for UConn basketball. Not only has Dan Hurley’s rebuild led the program to team success via two national championships, but it has also led to individual success as both Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan join the list of Huskies to hear their names called in the NBA Draft.
The two star players were selected in the first round bringing the all-time total number of first round selections to 23 for UConn basketball. Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan were, respectively, the 12th and 13th top-10 draft picks of all time for the Huskies.
From trophies won to records broken, both Castle and Clingan have left their mark on UConn basketball history during their time in Storrs. They each gave their all to the Huskies and earned the privilege of hearing their name called on draft night. On the broadcast Dan Hurley said, “We won championships and they won their dream.”
Well said, coach.
Now let’s assign some grades to how these Huskies fit with their new teams!
Stephon Castle, 4th Overall, San Antonio Spurs: A
This pick is a slam dunk from all angles! There likely isn’t a better landing spot for someone with a hardworking and winning mindset like Stephon Castle. The Spurs have a history of winning championships with homegrown talent which really raises the ceiling for Castle’s potential as both a player and a teammate.
To go with that winning culture, the Spurs aren’t looking to compete for a title right away which gives Stephon Castle the time he needs to gain experience and develop into a reliable professional player. The only reason this grade didn’t get the plus sign is because the Spurs currently lack three-point shooting which hasn’t necessarily been Castle’s strength.
Stephon Castle instantly becomes a foundational piece in the Spurs’ rebuild as he nicely compliments his generationally talented teammate, Victor Wembanyama. These two are going to create some seriously electric highlights! The duo will grow together as legendary coach Gregg Popovich looks to bring the San Antonio Spurs back to the top of the league. The UConn basketball product is in good hands and is set up well to have a great NBA career.
All smiles from @UConnMBB’s latest lottery picks! 😁 pic.twitter.com/weipqrFWGI
— UConn Huskies (@UConnHuskies) June 27, 2024
Donovan Clingan, 7th Overall, Portland Trail Blazers: B+
Donovan Clingan finds his new home on the opposite side of the country with the Portland Trail Blazers. Our own Mat Mlodzinski ranked him second amongst big men in the 2024 draft class and that is exactly how the picks went on Wednesday. Cling Kong is a monster on the defensive side of the ball which should transition well into the NBA game and provide some instant results for the Trail Blazers.
The biggest penalty on this fit is that the Trail Blazers currently have former number one overall pick Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III on their roster. Perhaps this draft pick means that Portland is looking to move on from one of those bigs, but if they’re looking to move forward with all three of them on the roster then Clingan’s play time may be limited to start his career as he learns from the veterans.
In the long term, Clingan will be the cornerstone of the Trail Blazer’s defense and a foundational piece to their rebuild. Clingan’s court vision and passing ability will pair well with Portland’s young frontcourt, highlighted by Scoot Henderson. Most importantly, UConn basketball’s 2-time champion Center will look to bring that winning mentality with him to Portland as the franchise looks to usher in a new culture for their team.
[…] titles for the first time since Billy Donovan’s Florida Gators almost two decades prior, UConn basketball sent four of its starters to the NBA and would have sent all five if Alex Karaban had chosen to stay in the draft. UConn is firmly […]