Blue Devil Country

Rookie Big Man Delivers First Points in Duke Basketball Jersey

It took Patrick Ngongba II less than a minute of action to become a Duke basketball scorer.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball center Patrick Ngongba II
Duke basketball center Patrick Ngongba II / Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images
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Duke basketball freshman center Patrick Ngongba II played only three minutes in his first stint on the court for the Blue Devils. But to record his first points as a collegian, the 6-foot-11, 250-pounder out of Paul VI Catholic High School (Va.) needed only 44 seconds in the team's home game against the Wofford Terriers on Saturday afternoon.

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His debut bucket, a layup, arrived via an assist from a fellow five-star Blue Devil rookie in projected one-and-done guard/forward Cooper Flagg.

The Duke basketball social media team recognized Ngongba's score via the following post:

Ngongba, who arrived in Durham at No. 26 overall and No. 6 among centers on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, missed the entire preseason and the Blue Devils' first two regular season outings while recovering from foot injuries he sustained in high school.

Although he was available to play in Duke's 77-72 loss to Kentucky at the Champions Classic in Atlanta on Tuesday night, third-year head coach Jon Scheyer never called his number in that contest.

Patrick Ngongba II came back on the floor for roughly 90 seconds late in the first half against the Terriers. He finished the half with two points and three rebounds.

At the time of this article's publishing, the Blue Devils led the Terriers, 51-14, at the half.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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