Donovan Clingan will leave UConn to enter the 2024 NBA draft.

Clingan is currently the No. 3 prospect in ESPN's Top 100 and could receive consideration to go No. 1 overall in the draft.

Clingan used his 7-foot-7 wingspan and tremendous timing to become a prolific shot-blocker, averaging 2.5 per game to rank eighth in the nation.

Clingan averaged 15.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.2 blocks in the Huskies' tournament run this season, all up from his season averages. 

Sarah Strong, the top-ranked recruit in the class of 2024, committed to UConn at halftime of the Chipotle Nationals championship Saturday.

Strong was the last recruit to commit from the ESPN 100 and was deciding from among UConn, Duke and North Carolina. She joins a loaded 2024 class for the Huskies that also includes No. 4 Allie Ziebell and No. 18 Morgan Cheli.

"Just watching them play ... watching and realizing I can help them and be there. I'm just ready to be there and practice and play," Strong said of her decision to choose UConn, adding she felt the Huskies can help her reach her goal of playing in the WNBA. "I like the style and feel like I fill a need there. I'm drawn to the championship culture."

Donovan Clingan of UConn has climbed to No. 3 in ESPN's latest mock for the 2024 NBA draft.

Clingan has had a late season surge and projects as an excellent defensive big.

"Rudy Gobert or Donovan Clingan?" one general manager asked ESPN recently regarding who will be the more impactful defensive player.

ESPN also has Zach Edey of Purdue at No. 13 and Stephon Castle of UConn at No. 14.

Mock Draft
1. Pistons: Zaccharie Risacher, JL Bourg
2. Wizards: Alex Sarr, Perth
3. Hornets: Donovan Clingan, UConn
4. Spurs: Rob Dillingham, Kentucky
5. Blazers: Nikola Topic, Mega MIS
6. Raptors: Matas Buzelis, G League Ignite
7. Grizzlies: Reed Sheppard, Kentucky
8. Jazz: Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
9. Rockets: Cody Williams, Colorado
10. Bulls: Isaiah Collier, USC
11. Hawks: Ja'Kobe Walter, Baylor
12. Thunder: Ron Holland, G League Ignite
13. Blazers: Zach Edey, Purdue
14. Lakers: Stephon Castle, UConn
15. Hawks: Tidjane Salaun, Cholet
16. Suns: Kyle Filipowski, Duke
17. Sixers: Devin Carter, Providence
18. Heat: Tristan da Silva, Colorado
19. Raptors: Jared McCain, Duke
20. Knicks: Yves Missi, Baylor
21. Magic: Tyler Smith, G League Ignite
22. Pelicans: Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas
23. Wizards: Juan Nunez, Ratiopharm Ulm
24. Knicks: Bobi Klintman, Cairns
25. Cavaliers: Kyshawn George, Miami
26. Bucks: Kel'el Ware
27. Jazz: Carlton Carrington, Pitt
28. Wolves: Johnny Furphy, Kansas
29. Nuggets: Tyler Kolek, Marquette
30. Celtics: Justin Edwards, Kentucky

Create your own Mock Draft with RealGM's simulator.

UConn guard Azzi Fudd will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season after suffering ACL and medial meniscal tears in her right knee, the team announced Wednesday.

Fudd suffered the noncontact injury last week in practice when, according to coach Geno Auriemma, she went up for a shot and afterward remarked that it felt funny. She missed No. 6 UConn's past two games against Maryland and Minnesota, both wins, watching from the bench.

"We're all just so upset for Azzi," Auriemma said in a statement. "She worked hard to be healthy for this season, and it's unfortunate when you put in a lot of hard work and have a setback like this. Azzi loves the game and works tirelessly. I'm confident she'll rehab with the same work ethic and come back better than ever. We'll obviously miss her presence on the court, but Azzi will continue to be a great teammate and important part of this team this season. Our program will support Azzi through her recovery however we can."

The 2023-24 NCAA basketball season tips off on Monday. However, non-collegiate players top ESPN's 2024 NBA Draft prospect rankings.

Six of the top-10 prospects are playing for the G League Ignite or overseas teams. Ron Holland (#1 overall), Matas Buzelis (#6 overall) and Izan Almansa (#9 overall) are all playing for the Ignite this season. They are joined by Australia's Alex Sarr (#2 overall), France's Zaccharie Risacher (#5 overall) and Serbia's Nikola Topic (#10 overall) in the top-10.

The top ranked collegiate players are Isaiah Collier of USC (#3 overall), Justin Edwards of Kentucky (#4 overall) and Connecticut's Donovan Clingan (#7 overall) and Stephon Castle (#8 overall).