5 March Madness stars who need to be on Bulls draft radar

Illinois v Connecticut
Illinois v Connecticut / Michael Reaves/GettyImages
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1. Donovan Clingan, UCONN

If there's any player who could match Purdue's Edey in size and impact on the game, it's UCONN's Donovan Clingan. Stepping into the starting role for UCONN as a sophomore, Clingan has paired with point guard Stephon Castle to propel the Huskies to a 35-3 record and top seed in the NCAA tournament.

UCONN has bulldozed its way to the Final Four, defeating opponents by an average margin of 27.8 points per game. They've made great teams and great players alike look mediocre in comparison. Clingan has racked up a jaw-dropping 14 blocks over UCONN's last three games, nothing comes easy against him. Even Shannon Jr. couldn't get anything going against him, as the Illinois star submitted his only poor postseason performance when pitted against Clingan in the paint.

I'm not sure if everyone was as confident as I was in Clingan being a lottery talent before the big dance, but he's certainly made everyone aware of just how dominant he is now. I fully expect to see Clingan drafted early, perhaps even before the Bulls even have the chance to pick.

In the event Clingan does slip to Chicago, I believe the Bulls would simply be foolish not to take him. Their interior defense is in a miserable state. Nikola Vucevic is declining fast. The Bulls need a true anchor that can be relied on to help win games. Clingan may have a long NBA future waiting for him, but he's hardly a raw prospect. I expect him to step in and contribute from the jump, regardless of where he ends up.

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