UConn’s Donovan Clingan and Purdue’s Zach Edey: Titans of College Basketball
Fans and scouts rarely share the same viewing priorities, but last season’s biggest moment came during the men’s national title game tip-off between UConn’s 7-foot-3 Donovan Clingan and Purdue’s 7-5 Zach Edey. These two towering centers were key to their teams’ respective runs to the championship game and have been central figures in the draft conversation.
Scouts have dubbed Clingan, a potential top-seven pick, as a defensive powerhouse with growing offensive skills. His journey from an overweight high schooler to a national champion reflects UConn’s patient developmental approach. On the other hand, Edey, despite his dominant college stats and unique physical attributes, faces skepticism regarding his defensive flexibility in the NBA. His consistent scoring and rebounding, however, have kept him a compelling mid-to-late first-round prospect.
Edey’s unmatched size and dominant low-post play contrast with Clingan’s more versatile defensive coverage. As the draft approaches, teams must weigh each player’s unique attributes to determine their potential impact in a league increasingly valuing diverse skill sets among big men. Clingan and Edey’s careers will likely serve as a benchmark for evaluating future seven-footers in the NBA landscape.
