Duke Blue Devils forward Patrick Ngongba II has announced his decision to return to the university for his junior basketball season. The announcement was made Monday via a collaborative post on Instagram with the Duke men's basketball team.
Last season, Ngongba averaged career-high numbers with 10.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game. The 20-year-old started 28 games as a sophomore, a significant increase from his freshman year where he served primarily as a backup.
His return is crucial for Duke's frontcourt, especially with Cameron Boozer expected to enter the NBA Draft and Maliq Brown having exhausted his eligibility. Ngongba joins point guard Cayden Boozer, who has also confirmed his return. Decisions are still pending from several other Duke players regarding the NBA Draft or transfer portal.