As basketball season approaches, the Blue Zone provides a detailed preview of each player on Duke men's basketball's 2024-25 roster. We’ve already looked at Cameron Sheffield. Next up is freshman center Patrick Ngongba II:
Patrick Ngongba II
Year: Freshman
Height: 6-foot-11
Position: Center
Last year’s stat line: N/A
Game breakdown: Ngongba, ranked No. 19 overall in the 2024 recruiting class, rounds out an elite group of freshmen joining the Blue Devils this season. The 6-foot-11 graduate of St. Paul VI looks to bring his size, skill and athleticism to a Duke team lacking an abundance of conventional centers.
Ngongba separates himself offensively with a combination of tough-to-guard length and nifty footwork. An incredibly efficient scorer, he attempts most of his field goals right around the rim, where his soft touch and control allow him to maintain a high field goal percentage. While the Manassas, Va., native spends most of his time on the low block, he has shown an ability to step out and knock down the midrange jumper, a skill that head coach Jon Scheyer’s squad will certainly look to develop. Ngongba’s height and athleticism also allow him to be a major factor on the glass. On the defensive side, he contributes primarily as a rim protector, sliding over to deter driving guards in the paint, although he may struggle in situations that call for on-ball perimeter defense.
The main concern with Ngongba is his ability to stay healthy and on the court. He missed his senior season of high school due to a foot injury that appears to be a lingering issue. Ngongba is currently out of action, and his return date is unknown. One thing is for sure: when on the court, he has the potential to be a game-changer.
Role on the team: While a recruit of Ngongba’s prestige may ordinarily expect a significant role, this is no ordinary team. The center is the fifth-ranked freshman for the Blue Devils, and is likely to take somewhat of a backseat this campaign. It will be difficult for Ngongba to command a significant share of minutes, especially given his injury situation. He will mostly be competing with fellow freshman Khaman Maluach and veteran Maliq Brown for playing time. It is sensible for the coaching staff to take a steady approach this season with Ngongba, focusing on developing his skills and ensuring his health. With Maluach being a projected lottery pick in the 2025 NBA draft, Ngongba certainly has a path to the starting role next season, although his capacity this year may be limited to short stints on the court.
NBA comparison: Ngongba plays the five position in an old-fashioned style that is not particularly popular in today’s NBA. An apt comparison is to Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat. Adebayo’s high efficiency and focus around the rim on both sides of the court show similarities to Ngongba's. These two centers concentrate on high-percentage shots around the cup — while mixing in some short jumpers — and share the athleticism and tenacity to not only be difference-makers in the rebounding column, but also top-tier rim protectors.
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