Donovan Clingan is headed to the NBA, and the former University of Connecticut center believes Huskies coach Dan Hurley will “eventually” join him in the professional ranks.
Hurley turned down a six-year, $70 million offer from the Lakers earlier this month to stay in Storrs for a chance to win a third straight NCAA championship.
“I knew he wasn’t going to leave,” Clingan said Tuesday during an NBA media availability in Midtown, “I knew he was going to stay, I knew how much he loved UConn, I knew how much UConn meant to him.”
“Obviously, he didn’t miss the opportunity. It’s a great opportunity for him. I know he’ll want to go to the NBA at some point. He’s not going to leave UConn to go to another college, but UConn is home to him and I know he’ll do everything he can to get a third consecutive championship.”
Former University of Connecticut guard Stephon Castle, like Clingan, was also a likely high draft pick, but said he “really didn’t think” Hurley would take the Lakers coaching reign.
“It’s tough to leave a great program that’s in the midst of its prime right now,” Castle said, “but as far as his future goes, I don’t know if he wants to coach in the NBA. I know he has the ability and I know he can coach any team.”
USC guard Isaiah Collier was a freshman guard for the Trojans last season along with teammate Bronny James.
It will be interesting to see where LeBron’s son is drafted.
Bronny averaged just 4.8 points in 25 games after returning from cardiac arrest last summer.
“He’s going to be a really good player,” Collier said. “You never really understand that, you think about being in that situation. It’s tough to bounce back from. I’m proud of him for being able to come through that and bounce back and be where he is now. Whoever gets him is going to be a good player.”
When asked if he thought James’ son would be drafted by the Lakers, Collier smiled and added, “I don’t know. It’s not like I make that decision.”
