Breaking Down UConn Huskies Potential NBA Players

Connecticut has now won their fifth national championship after a win over San Diego State last night. They had a dominant tournament run with very talented players. How many NBA players do they have on their roster?

The UConn Huskies had one of the most dominant tournament runs we’ve ever seen and what makes it even more remarkable is that they were only a four seed. The number one thing you need to win a championship is talent. Having elite talent with great chemistry often results in deep tournament runs. Let’s take a look at some of their prospects that helped lead them to a national championship.

Jordan Hawkins

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Hawkins is a projected top 20 pick in the draft. The sharpshooting prospect was hot from the perimeter all tournament long and his stock has steadily been on the rise this past month. He’s in the conversation as the best pure shooter eligible for the draft this year. His shot mechanics are so fluid and smooth. Hawkins has a lightning quick release that makes his jumper seemingly unblockable when he has enough space.

He has great footwork when getting into his jump-shots and does a phenomenal job of squaring his body up to the rim. He’s great at moving without the ball and reading the defenders when receiving off-ball screens. The sophomore just an average athlete with average size for a wing but there’s always a place in the league for elite sharpshooters and I wouldn’t be surprised if he an organizations drafts Hawkins in the lottery due to the steam he has been gaining,

Andre Jackson

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Jackson is a projected early second-round pick in the draft. I have been on the Jackson hype train this past month as there’s only a handful of players in the draft that have the combination of elite athleticism and great feel for the game that he possesses. He’s an obvious NBA athlete with his elite blend of speed and vertical pop. At his best in the open floor in which he’ll thrive at when he’s in the NBA.

He’s a good decision-maker that is always two plays ahead of everyone else off the floor. Jackson knows how to pass his teammates open and is capable of making advanced reads. He’s a really smart cutter which goes well with his athleticism and off-ball passing skills. He has been catching a lot of eyes with his two-way impact and I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if a contender in the late first round takes a chance on him.

Donovan Clingan

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Clingan is a projected early second-round pick in the draft. He has been a backup big all season for Adama Sanogo but has been incredibly productive in the minutes he receives. He’s a massive paint presence as he stands at 7-foot-2 with incredibly long arms. He intimidates offensive players when they attack the rim due to his size and shot-blocking ability. The big man alters nearly everything inside the paint and could end up as one of the top interior defenders in the NBA if he reaches his ceiling.

He has solid mobility for someone at that size and is willing to do all the dirty work to help his team win. Clingan has a very limited role offensively as a screener and lob target but he excels in his role which is important when projecting as an NBA player. He has been skyrocketing up draft boards recently. Clingan excels at the stuff needed for his archetype while being very young. Could that be enough for a team to draft him in the first round? Time will tell.

Adama Sanogo

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Sanogo is projected to be undrafted in the draft. He has been a major cog in UConn’s offense over the last two seasons. He has a strong frame at 245 pounds yet has a feathery soft touch inside of the paint. His soft touch has allowed him to expand his range out to 3-point range as he made his first career three this season and is shooting an impressive 36.5% from the outside.

He’s a skilled post scorer that has a good blend of power, finesse, and skill down low. Sanogo has taken a step forward this season defensively although he still doesn't project to be a good defender in the NBA. He is only a junior and isn’t highly projected on mock drafts but his production, skill, and success in college could be enough for a team to bet on him in the second round.

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