The UConn Huskies were well represented in the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday night. Two of the top 7 picks were Connecticut alums, with Stephon Castle going third overall to the San Antonio Spurs, and Donovan Clingan landing with the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 7.
UConn head coach Dan Hurley was in attendance for the draft, and he could not be more proud of his boys.
UConn Huskies Have Two Lottery Picks in 2024 NBA Draft
It was Castle who went off the board first as the Spurs used their No. 3 overall pick to scoop up the freshman guard. Castle, who averaged 11.1 points on 47.2 percent shooting, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists last season, could be the point guard San Antonio has been looking for to pair with Victor Wembanyama.
Going seventh overall is Clingan, who is coming off back-to-back NCAA championships with UConn. The 7-foot-2 center heads to Portland where he will serve as the primary backup to starting center Deandre Ayton. The Blazers made some big moves on draft day by agreeing on a trade with the Washington Wizards for Deni Avdija, and the arrival of Clingan makes them an even more dangerous squad for 2024-25.
Dan Hurley Reacts
Coach Hurley sat down with NBA TV’s Taylor Rooks shortly after his two former stars were drafted. The 51-year-old shot-caller clearly could not be more proud of what Castle and Clingan have achieved:
"What they did in their short time at UConn is legendary and now they're gonna go crush it in the NBA." 🙌@TaylorRooks with UConn HC Dan Hurley to discuss how special it was to see his Huskies get drafted pic.twitter.com/obe9Gn6trs
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 27, 2024
As Hurley indicated in his message, these two young men deserve everything coming to them.
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