National scouting director breaks down UConn’s No. 3-ranked class
UConn’s Clingan visits Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital
Jordan Hawkins and Adama Sanogo have entered the NBA Draft. Andre Jackson Jr. and Tristen Newton may follow their lead.
Dan Hurley and his UConn men’s basketball coaching staff knew the Huskies could lose a player (or four) to the pros once this season concluded, national title or not.
“This is why,” Hurley said, “we went out and invested the time in the 2023 class.”
The Huskies invested wisely. UConn’s five-man recruiting class of Stephon Castle, Solomon Ball, Jaylin Stewart, Jayden Ross and Youssouf Singare is currently ranked No. 3 in the nation by 247Sports.com. That ranking isn’t likely to change much, if at all, when the site updates its rankings in a couple of weeks.
The quintet, which
NEW HAVEN — Donovan Clingan walked into the playroom at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, all 7-foot-2 of him, and naturally the littlest patient in the room was right there by the door, staring up and coming up to about his kneecap.
It remained about that adorable over about a halfhour’s visit as the UConn men’s basketball freshman sensation from Bristol went around the room, talking with kids, signing autographs, posing for pictures.
“Making people happy is something I always try to do,” Clingan said. “To see these kids, what they’re going through, the struggle they face ... to make them happy and bring a smile to their face means a lot to me.”
A statewide celebrity at Bristol Central, Clingan’s star grew even more this season as a UConn freshman, helping the Huskies to the NCAA championship on April 3 with a 7659 win over San Diego State in Houston. He said he’s mostly focused on getting ready for next year; he announced not a week after the championship that he plans to be back for a chance to repeat.
Clingan’s visit was part of a Dunkin’ initiative that will benefit Connecticut Children’s and Yale New Haven Children’s Hospitals.
On May 23, “National Iced Coffee Day,” Dunkin’ will donate $1 for each iced coffee sold at participating stores (excluding Cold Brew and Nitro Cold Brew) to the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation to benefit the two hospitals, the company said in a release.
“I’ve had some teammates work with them a little bit,” Clingan said. “They just reached out to me (and asked) do you want to hang out with the kids a little bit. I told them I was definitely interested, I’d love to do that.”
Dunkin’ said the foundation has given out $30 million in grants since 2006 to bring “the simple joys of childhood to kids battling hunger or illness.”
Cynthia Sparer, the hospital’s executive director, said the foundation has granted over $630,000 to programs here.
“You see one right there entertaining, and that’s our dogs,” Sparer said — Nana may have been more popular than Clingan and definitely got more belly rubs.
“We have two of them, and it’s thanks to our relationship with Dunkin’ and the Dunkin’ foundation that’s giving us the money that it takes to support these dogs. They live here at the hospital. They’re cared for by members of our staff.”
Sparer said there are several other hospital initiatives funded by the grants.
“We have music and art therapy programs, anything from sitting with a child to help make a song,” Sparer said, “or help make a piece of art, or even for our littlest babies
No. 39, 6-3, 185 shooting guard: Finkelstein was high on Ball long before Ball started moving up the national rankings.
“I think he’s just hyper-competitive,” he said. “On top of that, he has really evolved athletically, over the course of the last 18 months.”
Two summers ago, as a rising junior, Ball wasn’t particularly explosive. He was known more for his skillset than his physical attributes. Since then, he’s sculpted his body and is now a true physical specimen.
“His body’s just taken off,” Finkelstein noted. “Now, he’s this long, athletic lefty who’s really competitive, totally dedicated to the game. There’s still some holes and certainly some polish that he needs to add, but there’s enough skill to keep developing.”
Players typically get better under Hurley, so the fact that Ball has already shown that capacity before arriving on campus bodes very well for the future.
“When you see that rate of improvement in the neonatal intensive care unit, to have music is very soothing. It’s very therapeutic. And it’s therapeutic to the parents as well.”
Before heading down the hall to see some patients in their rooms, Clingan paused at the Pop-aShot game where Matthew La Rose of New Haven had been shooting just about the whole time he’d been there. La Rose, in a Steph Curry jersey, stood next to Clingan as each heaved up a few shots. Clingan’s first two swished through the hoop.
Do you have one of these in your dorm room, someone asked? “I need one,” he answered.
No. 91, 6-7, 180 small forward: Like Ball, his former teammate at both St. James School in Maryland and on the Team Melo AAU squad, Ross has improved a lot and boasts a great motor. Like Stewart, he may be underrated.
“Jayden’s interesting,” said Finkelstein. “What his role is right away at UConn is going to be interesting. I think he’s going to be a guy that may require a little bit of patience. But, at the same time, I think he exceeded expectations this year at (Long Island Lutheran).”
Ross is a bouncy bundle of energy on the floor who espouses defense but boasts some offensive skills, as well. He was initially viewed as a building-block, multi-year guy by the staff, and that’s probably still the plan, but he may be farther along right now than many anticipated.
“He’s become a guy who’s kind of grown into his body and become more athletic. He’s progressed in
With the uncertainty surrounding Jackson and Newton affecting what UConn can get out of the transfer portal right now, Hurley and his staff are currently gearing their focus on 2024 recruits. With national championship in tow, coupled with what’s not considered a very strong local, New England market in this class, UConn appears to be broadening its scope nationwide — something the staff has been planning to do anyway and, to a certain extent, did for the 2023 class with Stewart and Castle (Georgia).
It’s also worth noting that more Class of 2024 players have committed early than any class in a long time … “maybe ever,” per Finkelstein.
That doesn’t mean the staff doesn’t love Tyler Betsey, the 6-8 shooter from Windsor who spent this past season at St. Thomas More in Oakdale. Betsey (No. 24 per 247Sports) is a high priority, though it appears the Huskies will be going head-to-head with Duke and other national powers for his services. And with Karaban and Stewart likely still on the roster the following season, small forward may not be a huge position of need for the Huskies.
Taylor was already established as one of the NFL’s top pass rushers when he left the Dolphins to join the AFC East-rival Jets in 2010. He was a good fit for Rex Ryan’s aggressive defense that helped New York to the AFC title game. Taylor returned to Miami for one final season before retiring.
Jets stats: 5 sacks, 1 safety, 6 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries in 16 games. Pro Football Hall of Fame: 2017.
G ALAN FANECA: Faneca played 10 years with Pittsburgh, helping the Steelers win a Super Bowl while also becoming one of the NFL’s top guards as a ferocious run blocker. The six-time All-Pro signed a five-year deal with the Jets in 2008, helping them make the AFC title
One of the most feared safeties in NFL history because of his ferocious hits, Atwater spent 10 seasons in Denver and helped win a Super Bowl while twice being selected an All-Pro and making eight Pro Bowl teams. He signed with the Jets in 1999 and spent one season in New York before retiring.
Jets stats: 1 pass defensed, 1 forced fumble in 12 games, including 11 starts. Pro Football Hall of Fame: 2020.
CB TY LAW: The threetime Super Bowl champion with New England had two stints with the Jets. He had a league-leading 10 interceptions and made the Pro Bowl after signing a three-year deal with New York as a free agent in 2005. He was a salary-cap cut the following offseason, but rejoined the Jets midway through the 2008 season after two years in Kansas City. Law retired after one more season in Denver.
Jets stats: 10 INTs, 20 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery in 23 games. Pro Football Hall of Fame: 2019.