Duke is eagerly anticipating next season after a heartbreaking loss in the Elite 8 to UConn just three weeks ago. The Blue Devils are doing everything possible to avoid repeating the same fate as last season.
A crucial step in getting Duke back to the Final Four, as it did in the 2024-25 season, is ensuring key players return. Center Patrick Ngongba II announced on Monday that he will be returning for his junior season.
Ngongba Will Be a Key For Duke Next Season
Ngongba has spent the last two seasons at Duke, playing in 32 games this past season and starting 28. He averaged 10.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, but his standout attribute is his rim protection and exceptional defensive skills, boasting an average of 1.1 blocks per game.
The 6-foot-11 center wasn’t at his best during this year’s NCAA tournament due to foot soreness, which caused him to miss the last regular season game against North Carolina, the entire ACC tournament, and the first round of March Madness against Siena.
Ngongba returned for Duke’s Round of 32 game against TCU and faced off against St. John’s in the Sweet 16 and UConn in the Elite 8. However, it was clear throughout that he was still dealing with his injury.
It’s important for Ngongba to stay healthy this upcoming season, as his presence could help Duke become the top team in college basketball.
Ngongba had an opportunity to be a first-round pick in this year’s NBA draft, and it’s quite shocking that he didn’t even attempt to go through the draft process and the combine. He could have seen where he would be selected, and if he wasn’t satisfied with his projected position, he could have returned to Duke.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Duke Announces Major Development as Cameron Boozer’s NBA Draft Decision Looms appeared first on Heavy Sports.