Blue Devil Country

Giant Duke Basketball Target Announces Top Three, Decision Date

Toward the end of next week, recent Duke basketball visitor Patrick Ngongba II decides on his college destination.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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Paul VI Catholic (Va.) five-star senior Patrick Ngongba II, fresh off his weekend official visit with the Duke basketball program, is down to three finalists in his recruitment: Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas State. He plans to announce a winner on Nov. 4, he told On3's Joe Tipton on Wednesday afternoon.

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Ngongba, a 6-foot-11, 250-pound agile center who ranks No. 25 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, will first take an official visit to Kansas State this weekend. He visited Kentucky in late September.

Currently, there are no predictions in the 247Sports Crystal Ball for Ngongba. But judging by chatter from national insiders and the big man's smiles while standing alongside the Cameron Crazies at Duke's Countdown to Craziness in Cameron Indoor Stadium on Friday night, it feels like the Blue Devils might have emerged as the frontrunner.

Furthermore, it wasn't his first trip to Durham. He was on an official visit with the Blue Devils in June, a week and a half after receiving an offer from second-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer.

Meanwhile, if the predictions hold for Montverde Academy (Fla.) five-star forward Cooper Flagg, who ranks No. 1 overall in the class and is likely to announce a winner between Duke and UConn this week, then the potential addition of Patrick Ngongba would give the Blue Devils their fifth 2024 commitment.

The three publicly on board already with Scheyer & Co. are Paul VI Catholic four-star small forward Darren Harris (Ngongba's teammate), North Meck (N.C.) five-star small forward Isaiah Evans, and Wisconsin Lutheran five-star small forward Kon Knueppel.

Big-Time Prediction Surfaces for Duke Target Cooper Flagg

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball recruiting news.

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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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