New Duke Basketball Target Seems Drastically Underrated

One Duke basketball pledge could prove pivotal in the Blue Devils landing an ascending 2024 big man.

Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer hasn't appeared desperate to land a center for his 2024 recruiting haul. Until entering the fray for Paul VI Catholic (Va.) junior Patrick Ngongba II earlier this week, the Blue Devils had gone about five months without having any offers out to undecided big men in the class.

Perhaps Scheyer and his staff, who have thus far reeled in commitments from two 2024 small forwards in four-star Darren Harris and five-star Isaiah Evans, have just been waiting for the right post prospect to emerge and saw that happen with Ngongba.

Since January, the 6-foot-10, 235-pound four-star has risen from No. 142 to No. 64 on the 247Sports 2024 Composite. And considering what looks to be his ultimate breakout performance at Nike EYBL Session 4 in Memphis last weekend, Ngongba now looks to be in store for a fifth star and another massive jump in the rankings.

In four games starring alongside Harris for Team Takeover, Ngongba averaged 18.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 blocks while shooting 63.0 percent from the field and 81.2 percent from the charity stripe. Those stats, all coming in wins, led to The Circuit naming him the weekend's MVP.

2024 C 6-foot-10 Patrick Ngongba II has progressed tremendously in the @NikeEYB this grassroots season — a huge part of the Paul VI (VA) success.

Makes his presence defensively, impressive mobility, footwork, has a nice touch inside, and has the ability to knockdown jumpers. pic.twitter.com/OJJnDCr9h4

— Samad Hines (@Samad_Hines) May 31, 2023

But his production level against top-shelf competition has only recently reached this level.

During his chat with 247Sports' Travis Branham after receiving the Duke offer, the now-mobile giant credited his transformation into a versatile interior presence to the 30 pounds he has shed across the past year. Then he explained what it means to be on the Duke basketball wishlist, pointing out Scheyer noticed the strides in his game.

"It means a lot," Patrick Ngongba II said about the offer from the Blue Devils. "They're one of the highest programs in the country, so it means a lot. [Scheyer] was just saying he got to see how I was getting better each time and stuff like that. He said I play hard and stuff like that."

Although no insiders have entered predictions for his recruitment, which includes a handful of other top suitors in Iowa, Kansas State, Providence, UConn, and Virginia, some would say the Blue Devils may now enjoy the inside track due to Harris.

"He was pretty excited about it," Ngongba told Branham about Harris' reaction to his Duke basketball offer.

That excitement was evident in Harris' retweet of Ngongba's news:

Yessir 👀👀 https://t.co/yr1VH6STs9

— Darren Harris (@darrenwh11) May 30, 2023

Harris is also Ngongba's teammate at Paul VI Catholic. That's the same school that has recently produced two Duke basketball players in former one-and-done guard Trevor Keels, now fresh off his rookie year with the New York Knicks, and returning senior guard Jeremy Roach.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for more Duke basketball recruiting updates.