Why Duke Basketball’s Patrick Ngongba Looks Like a Genius

Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff had about as good an offseason as the coaching staff could’ve hoped for. The Blue Devils returned three starters, brought in two high-profile transfer additions, and sealed the No. 1-ranked high school recruiting class.

However, arguably, no move was bigger for Duke this offseason than bringing back center Patrick Ngongba.

Mar 29, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; UConn Huskies forward Tarris Reed Jr. (5) shoots the ball over Duke Blue Devils center Patrick Ngongba (21) during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Retention of Patrick Ngongba Crucial for Duke Basketball

Ngongba was the Blue Devils’ biggest breakout candidate a season ago. After averaging 3.9 points and 2.7 rebounds a game as a rookie in a reserve role behind Khaman Maluach, Ngongba boosted those numbers to 10.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.1 blocks a game in 21.9 minutes of action.

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The 6’11” big man established himself as one of the best two-way centers in the ACC, though his presence was felt the most on the defensive end of the floor. Ngongba became a legit rim protector and defensive anchor for the Blue Devils down low, while also being versatile enough with his footwork to switch when needed.

Mar 21, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Texas Christian University Horned Frogs guard Liutauras Lelevicius (3) atempts to block a shot by Duke Blue Devils center Patrick Ngongba (21) during the first half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Ngongba played his way into being a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, paving the way for a very difficult decision to be made this offseason. In today’s world of NIL, even though he was a projected first-rounder, he probably would make more money next year…

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Publish date : 2026-06-30 11:00:00

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