With the college basketball season starting, I want to highlight returning players who could make some noise in the NCAA this season and will be players in the NBA. 

Donovan Clingan, Sophomore, UConn, Center 7’2, 265lb

National Champions UConn Huskies had a talented squad last year. Donovan is the direct backup to current Chicago Bull Adama Sanogo.

 In a limited time, Donovan has been amazingly efficient. His combination of size and strength allows him to score around the basket. Donovan, in the pick and roll, is a train going towards the basket. 

Being 7’2, he moves pretty well for his size. he has incredible screen setting skills, allowing Jordan Hawkins to be such a deadeye shooter in the minutes they share. 

Offensively, he needs to work on his medium to long-range shooting. Being such a bad foul shooter (51%) will keep him out of end-game scenarios. If he could add popping abilities to his bag, it would add to his potential as a complementary center scorer. 

Donovan has the potential to be an anchor to a great defense, disciplined defensively where he doesn’t jump at every shot to get the block; he forces opposing bigs to score over his contest and then boxes the opposing big to get the rebound. 

Being a disciplined and mobile defender, he has the habit of getting into foul trouble. He has never fouled out yet but has gotten four fouls in multiple games. If he can get the foul issues sorted out, he has no weaknesses on the defensive end.  

  He was rumored to be a mid-to-late first-round pick in the last year. With a starting role in this year’s team, he can dominate the Big East and the Nation.  

Riley Kugel, Florida, Guard, Sophomore, 6′ 5″, 207 lbs

Mocks are divisive on Riley from the top 5 to the end of the first round.¹

Riley went on a heater last year to end the season when he became the primary ball handler for the Gators. I assume he will be the primary this year. 

Offensively, Riley has a big bag! His creativity with his dribble creation can give him space to utilize his athleticism to get to the basket. Riley can make tough shots and has an NBA 3-point range. 

His ability to run the pick-and-roll starts most of the offense for the Gators. Riley uses screen navigation to get up a lot of three-point attempts. Uses his bag of dribble moves to generate space

Since he is so used to being in the pick-and-roll, I would love to see him use it to create shots and easy buckets for his teammates. Being able to score and set his teammates up will help his team win games, and scouts see his abilities for opportunities at the next level. 

Defensively, he is pretty bad, gets caught ball-watching, and allows his matchup to score quickly. This is the biggest thing Riley needs to work on before he gets to the pros. 

Terrence Shannon Jr, Illinois, Wing, Fifth Year, 6’6, 225 lbs

Terrence Shannon Jr was one of my favorite players in last year’s draft cycle; because of the covid extra year of eligibility he has, he was able to return to Illinois because he wasn’t guaranteed a first-round pick. It’s been a long journey for Terrence with basketball. 

He started out as just a high-level defender who was a super athlete. He’s built upon his athletic gifts into a skilled player on both ends of the floor. His first step is deadly, leading him downhill at the rim to score and go to the line, a crafty layup finisher and dunker.

 Defensively, he has the potential to be a great on-ball defender with excellent quickness to get into the passing lanes, then get out in transition and finish.