Syracuse Basketball: 4-star Donovan Clingan ‘comfortable’ in zone defense

One of the top recruiting analysts in the sport had some interesting things to say about Syracuse basketball 2022 four-star target Donovan Clingan, who suited up in an AAU event this past weekend.

Competing for his AAU team, the Boston-based Team Spartans, the 7-foot-1 Clingan played in the KC Classic in Kansas City, Mo., and caught the attention of Eric Bossi, the national basketball director for 247Sports.

You can click here to find out how Team Spartans fared in this event. First and foremost, Bossi writes that “Clingan proved to be one of the most intriguing players in the building.”

The four-star center and consensus top-60 prospect in the 2022 cycle is a junior at Bristol Central High School in Bristol, Conn. Clingan put forth a tremendous junior campaign in which he landed All-American honors.

Recently, Clingan revealed a top eight that includes the Orange, Michigan, Ohio State, Georgetown, Connecticut, Providence, Rutgers and fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member Notre Dame.

Syracuse basketball 2022 prospect Donovan Clingan impressed at the KC Classic.

There is one nugget from Bossi, in particular, that I found quite encouraging. He said of Clingan, “Defensively he looks most comfortable anchoring a zone and he is a good straight up shot blocker.”

Now, just because Clingan excels in a zone defense, and the ‘Cuse plays a 2-3 zone, doesn’t mean in any way, shape or form that he is headed to the Hill.

That being said, if Clingan is comfortable in a zone defense, this is a good thing. And the Syracuse basketball defense often prides itself on blocking shots, as well as making deflections and creating steals.

What’s more, Clingan in the past has spoken highly of head coach Jim Boeheim, the Orange coaching staff, and the team’s style of play.

Plus, Syracuse basketball was the first squad to offer Clingan, back in August of 2019. Orange fanatics are obviously hopeful that he will choose the ‘Cuse, because the team has struggled at the center position, mainly on offense, in recent seasons.

Bossi says that Clingan has a nice touch when shooting jumpers, he rebounds well, and he can finish strong with either his right or left hand.

"More from Bossi. “Style of play changes when he’s on the floor and a program that is committed to letting him set up on the block and playing through him as a guy who can either score in the post or draw help defenders and find shooters looks like it could be the best fit.”"

Many Syracuse basketball fans feel that Michigan and Connecticut may be the favorites at this juncture, although Clingan keeps his recruiting process pretty close to the vest. He is planning to make a visit to Central New York in June to check out the Orange campus, per Mike Waters of Syracuse.com.