The UConn men’s basketball program has received signed National Letters of Intent from Donovan Clingan and Alex Karaban, UConn coach Dan Hurley announced on Wednesday.
Both players will be eligible starting with the 2022-23 season.
Clingan, a 7-1, 265-pound center from Bristol, Conn., was a consensus Top 50 player and one of the most coveted big man recruits in the country.
Clingan was named the Gatorade Connecticut Player of the Year in 2020-21 and was one of three finalists for the Gatorade National Player of the Year after leading Bristol Central High School to a 15-0 record and the Central Connecticut Bracket I Championship.
He averaged 27.3 points, 17.2 rebounds, 5.8 blocks, and 3.1 assists last season, upping his three-year career totals at Bristol Central to 1,421 points and 1,002 rebounds to go with his 3.5 grade point average.
“We are very excited to announce the addition of Donovan to the UConn basketball family,” Hurley said. “With his size, his ability to pass, and his shooting touch around the basket and on the perimeter, he should have an immediate impact on our frontcourt at both ends of the court.
“Donovan’s work ethic and team-first attitude fits in perfectly with the championship culture we are establishing. He has had an outstanding scholastic career under Coach (Tim) Barrette at Bristol Central and on the AAU circuit under Coach (Joe) Chatman with Team Spartans.”
Karaban is a 6-8, 210-pound forward from Northborough, Mass., who is playing his senior season at IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) after two years at New Hampton (N.H.) School.
Karaban, like Clingan, is a consensus Top 50 recruit and was named the Gatorade New Hampshire Player of the Year last season after averaging 25.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.9 blocks and shooting 60.3 percent to lead New Hampton to the New England Prep School Athletic Council Class AAA tournament championship. He was named MVP of the title game.
Karaban also played for Expressions Elite on the AAU circuit and averaged 18.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 blocks to earn selection to the All-Peach Jam Second Team.
“As with Donovan, we are thrilled to welcome Alex to UConn,” Hurley said. “He has every attribute that we are looking for in our student-athletes – he’s tough, hard-working, skilled and all about improving and winning. He’s the kind of player who is always in the gym. He has been outstanding at the scholastic level at New Hampton under Coach (Andrew) Gale and now at IMG Academy under Coach (Chad) Meyers and under Coach (Todd) Quarles with his Expressions Elite AAU team.”
Clingan and Karaban, along with Corey Floyd Jr., were ranked as a Top 10 recruiting class for UConn before Floyd elected to reclassify and join the Huskies as a freshman this season.
(Release from UConn)
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