Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Future Duke Basketball Center Patrick Ngongba II Gives Injury Update
Back in November, Paul VI Catholic (Va.) big man Patrick Ngongba II underwent successful surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot. The 6-foot-11, 235-pound five-star, teammate to a fellow 2024 Duke basketball signee in four-star wing Darren Harris, has been sidelined ever since as a result, missing most of his senior campaign.
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This week, Ngongba told 247Sports' Dushawn London that he has a doctor visit scheduled for Friday.
"I'll get an estimate for when I can get back on the court," said Ngongba, who pledged allegiance to the Blue Devils four months ago and now ranks No. 23 overall and No. 5 at his position on the 247Sports 2024 Composite. "Throughout this time, it's been going pretty well with Duke, and I've been keeping contact with them.
"They've talked me through this injury, and I go down there sometimes and speak with their doctors and the coaches...They've said to watch basketball, get my mind right, and do the stuff I can do to get back better than ever. They’ve mentioned ball-handling, shooting, lifting, and things like that."
Here's a summary of Ngongba's upside from 247Sports' Brandon Jenkins, who named the future Blue Devil one of 10 up-and-coming collegiate centers this week:
"If it was not for an injury that had him sidelined the majority of his senior campaign, Patrick Ngongba would be a McDonald's All-American. At 6-foot-11, he brings tremendous size, great touch, and the ability to operate inside-and-out. His game has efficiently expanded over the past year, making him a big man who Jon Scheyer will be able to play through next season."
In the summer, Patrick Ngongba II will move to Durham alongside Darren Harris and three other early signees in Montverde (Fla.) five-star forward Cooper Flagg, Wisconsin Lutheran five-star forward Kon Knueppel, and North Meck (N.C.) five-star forward Isaiah Evans.
It's possible an undecided five-star will join them in NBA Academy Africa center Khaman Maluach, Scheyer & Co.'s last remaining 2024 target.
Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball recruiting news.