Basketball is a sport for many, a passion for some, and a skill for the rest. But for UConn star Donovan Clingan, it is a connection to his late mother. The 20-year-old is turning out to be the best choice for Dan Hurley as he continues to shine for the Huskies. After grabbing his first National Championship title as a freshman last year, Clingan is only becoming better. With multiple wins coming at the hands of this 7’2″ superstar, the entire basketball world has one eye on him.

While his fans know about his performances on the floor quite well, they don’t really know much about his family. The Bristol-born was never into taking basketball as seriously as basketball took him. And the only reason behind the center’s success is his mother’s skills and his father’s motivation.

The legends behind this budding 20-year-old superstar

Donovan Clingan is the son of Bill Clingan and Stacey Porrini Clingan. The 20-year-old sophomore also has a younger sister, Olivia, in his family. The young sister is a volleyball enthusiast and is in her senior year at Bristol Central. She next wishes to move to Clemson, South Carolina, to make a name for herself. Bill Clingan, who stands at 6 ft 5 in, has a close relationship with his son. He too played some basketball at Southington High. However, Donovan gets most of his talents from his mother.

Stacey was a basketball player for her high school Bristol Central, where she has multiple titles to her name, including the city record for most rebounds at 1032 as a senior and a Hall of Fame mention. The 6’4″ Italian also took her talents to the University of Maine, where she brought them to the NCAA stage three times. Her shining record showcases her basketball talent with 1128 points, 929 rebounds, and 220 blocks. However, her athleticism was not limited to hooping. She was also involved in swimming, running tracks, and fielding.

Nevertheless, none of this was enough to keep her in the sport after she married in 2001. The super-talented Stacey chose a family life over the WNBA with her husband, Bill. She also moved on to become a first-grade teacher in Greene Hills, Bristol.

However, on March 26, 2018, Stacey Porrini said her last goodbye to the Clingan family. “The matriarch” of the family fought her last battle with breast cancer but lost at the age of 42. So how does the Big East All-Freshman team (2023) maintain bond with her?

Donovan Clingan brings his late mother back through basketball

According to Donovan, basketball was never his first choice of interest. But with his mother passing away, the young kid only found one way to stay connected to her; basketball. The sport was a shared interest between the two, something they watched together. Hence, Dan Hurley’s star dressed up in a No. 32 to honor his mother and continues to shine on the floor.

As a high schooler who chose to stay local and go to the same campus where Stacey was in the Hall of Fame, he wanted to stand as tall as his mother. Balancing snow shoveling in the winters and landscaping in the summers, Clingan changed his entire schedule. Waking up at 05:30 for a workout, returning in time for school, and finally coming home at night after a long basketball practice session, Donovan changed his physique and mentality.

As a junior at Bristol Central, he averaged 27.3 points, 17.2 rebounds, and 5.8 blocks. To bring more honor to his mother, he led the team with a 28-0 record and a state title as a senior. His name still ties with his mother for rebounds in the high school. However, instead of moving to a better program as a collegiate, Donovan wanted to stay. But his father wanted him to unlock his potential. He finally chose UConn.

How has Stacey impacted her son?

His everyday activities to date show how Donovan Clingan still respects everything his mother wished for. Whether it is about graduating with a degree or being everywhere on time, his mother’s voice remains in his head. It says, “If you’re not 15 minutes early, you’re 10 minutes late.”

The habit of being punctual and impatient can get quite annoying for the rest of the Huskies as he always wishes to be the first everywhere. Nevertheless, his habit of showing up on time is how UConn is still leading the charge and is the projected favorite to be a winner. Currently, in the 2024 March Madness run, the sophomore is averaging 15.7 points while shooting 66.7% from the field in his 23 minutes on the floor. He is a complete package for the Huskies as he has also contributed 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.25 steals, and 3.5 blocks in the last four tournament games.

With the team now in the Final Four and his father on the sidelines looking up to heaven to get some blessings from Stacey, Donovan Clingan will be looking to repeat history and become a back-to-back champion.

Read More- Which Team Can Stop UConn From Becoming Back-to-Back National Champions Ahead in the March Madness?