Duke got a lot done this offseason, but the move that may end up mattering most was the simplest one: Patrick Ngongba staying put.
Jon Scheyer’s program already checked plenty of boxes. The Blue Devils brought back three starters, added two headline transfer pieces, and landed the No. 1 high school recruiting class. Even with all of that, Ngongba’s return stands out as the decision with the biggest ripple effect.
The 6'11" center turned himself into one of the ACC’s most impressive two-way bigs last season. After putting up 3.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per game as a rookie behind Khaman Maluach, Ngongba jumped to 10.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 21.9 minutes a night.
His value showed up most clearly on defense, where he became a true rim protector and a steady anchor in the paint. He also showed enough footwork to hold up when Duke needed him to switch.
That kind of leap pushed him into first-round territory for the 2026 NBA Draft, which made this offseason a real crossroads. Under the current NIL landscape, though, the math likely favored one more year in college. Ngongba never even entered the pre-draft process and chose to come back for his junior season.
There’s still a risk baked into that call. He has missed 15 games over his first two college seasons, so durability is part of the equation. If he can’t stay on the floor for a full year, that could affect where he stands in the draft next time around.
For now, though, the upside is obvious. Ngongba is set up to be a major force for Duke on both ends and could grow into one of the best two-way big men in the sport. An All-ACC-caliber season is very much on the table.
His decision looks even better when set beside Isaiah Evans’ choice. The Duke sophomore faced a similar offseason call, with both players projected as first-round picks and both positioned to make more in college than they would as rookie pros.
Ngongba returned. Evans entered the draft.
Evans wound up going later than expected and slipped out of the first round, landing at No. 33 overall with the Minnesota Timberwolves. That path cost him millions compared with another year in college.
None of that guarantees how either player’s NBA career will play out. Evans still has the tools to earn a second and third contract. But after draft night, Ngongba’s choice to stay at Duke looks awfully sharp: more money, a bigger role, and a chance to be a centerpiece on a team built to contend.
In Other News...
Duke Just Landed A Surprise 2027 Pledge With Brotherhood Ties
Dukes 2027 recruiting class got an early start with a pledge that carries both upside and a familiar family thread. Kager Knueppel, a four-star forward who has climbed to No. 52 nationally, chose the Blue Devils over a number of other suitors, giving Jon Scheyer and his staff their first commitment in the cycle.
The decision also adds another layer to Dukes recent ties to the Knueppel family, which has already become well known around Durham. Kager had been on the radar of several programs, including Wisconsin, Purdue, Toledo and DePaul, but the Blue Devils were able to move quickly and land him before the rest of the 2027 picture had really taken shape. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Just Sent Another Early Message In The 2028 Recruiting Race
The 2028 recruiting board is already starting to take shape, and Duke has made another move to keep itself near the front of it. Colton Hiller, a five-star small forward from Pennsylvania, said on social media over the weekend that the Blue Devils have extended him an official scholarship offer, adding his name to a class that is drawing early national attention.
Hiller is one of the more coveted prospects in that group, and Duke is clearly not waiting around while other heavy hitters get involved. The Blue Devils have been pursuing multiple 2028 targets as part of their strategy, which fits the usual pattern in Durham of getting in early, staying visible and forcing elite prospects to think about Duke long before signing day becomes real. [Read more 🡒]