Duke Center Patrick Ngongba II Returns for Sophomore Season After NBA Draft Consideration
6-foot-11 sophomore was projected as borderline first-round pick but opts to stay at Duke
Quick Look
- Duke center Patrick Ngongba II announced Monday he will return for his sophomore season, forgoing his NBA draft opportunity.
- The 6-foot-11 center was projected as a borderline first-round pick in June's NBA draft but chose to remain at Duke.
- Ngongba earned honorable mention All-ACC honors this season after averaging 10.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists, ranking among the ACC leaders in several advanced metrics.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Patrick Ngongba II emerged as one of the most improved players in the ACC this season, anchoring one of the country's elite defensive units. He earned honorable mention All-ACC honors while averaging 10.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
Duke starting center Patrick Ngongba II is returning to the Blue Devils next season, he announced Monday. Ngongba was projected as a borderline first-round pick in June's NBA draft but will opt to head back to college instead. A 6-foot-11 sophomore, Ngongba earned honorable mention All-ACC honors last season after averaging 10.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He was one of the most improved players in the conference and was an anchor for one of the country's elite defensive units. Ngongba ranked in the top 15 in the league in offensive rating, offensive rebound and defensive rebound rate, block percentage and fouls drawn per 40 minutes, according to KenPom. He was at his best down the stretch of the regular season, scoring in double figures in five straight games before suffering a foot injury that kept him out of the ACC tournament and the first round of the NCAA tournament. He wasn't fully healthy upon returning, coming off the bench in each of Duke's final three tournament games. With Ngongba back, Jon Scheyer is now expected to return at least three key pieces from a team that earned the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Freshman guard Cayden Boozer announced his return last week, while Caleb Foster also appears trending toward a return. There's optimism that freshman Dame Sarr will also come back to Durham instead of entering the NBA draft.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Cayden Boozer will officially return to Duke
Very likely · Within days
Caleb Foster will return to Duke
Likely · Within weeks
Dame Sarr will return to Duke
Possible · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will Ngongba's foot injury fully heal for next season?
- How will the returning roster impact Duke's championship chances?
- Will Dame Sarr also decide to return?
