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Three Duke Basketball Signees Playing for Prep National Title

The Chipotle Nationals championship bout will feature a trio of future Duke basketball talents.
Matt Giles|
Duke basketball signee Patrick Ngongba II
Duke basketball signee Patrick Ngongba II | Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

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At noon ET Saturday (ESPN2), the country's two premier prep squads, Paul VI Catholic (Va.) and Montverde Academy (Fla.), will square off for all the marbles at the Chipotle Nationals in Indiana. And the rosters include half of the six-deep 2024 Duke basketball recruiting class in five-star forward Cooper Flagg, five-star center Patrick Ngongba II, and four-star wing Darren Harris.

RELATED: Incoming Duke Guard Makes Another Statement on Big Stage

Flagg, No. 1 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, led undefeated Montverde, the No. 1 seed in the eight-team tournament, to the title game via his 28 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block in an 84-70 semifinal win over Columbus High School (Fla.) and the heralded Boozer twins on Friday.

Displaying off-the-charts versatility for the Eagles again, the 6-foot-9, 200-pound phenom, a projected one-and-done lottery pick, put together a highly efficient scoring effort. Flagg finished 9-for-14 from the field, 3-for-4 beyond the arc, and 7-for-8 at the foul line across his 29 minutes on the floor.

Before that contest began, Paul VI knocked off defending Chipotle Nationals champion Link Academy (Mo.), 58-44, largely on the back of Harris and his sharpshooting. He saw 30 minutes of action as a starter, tallying 20 points while draining three of his seven 3-point attempts and all but one of his eight attempts at the charity stripe.

Meanwhile, Ngongba was playing in only his second game back for the Panthers since undergoing foot surgery in November. He scored only one point against Link Academy but added seven boards, one dime, and two blocks in his 17 minutes off the bench.

The other three members of Duke basketball's top-ranked haul are North Meck (N.C.) five-star forward Isaiah Evans (he and Flagg are the two McDonald's All-Americans in the bunch), Wisconsin Lutheran five-star forward Kon Knueppel, and NBA Academy Africa five-star center Khaman Maluach.

RELATED: Duke Guard Jared McCain Now Projected as Lottery Pick

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI 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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