Ngongba Returns to Duke, Boosting Blue Devils' Ceiling

0:00On April 20, Duke basketball just landed a massive win with sophomore center Patrick Nongba announcing he's returning for the 2026, 27 season. The six-foot 11-inch big man from Virginia had everyone guessing whether he'd bolt for the NBA draft, but he's staying put with the Blue Devils. Under coach John Shire, earlier this off-season, and Ngongba was pegged as a late first-round pick, where Rookie's pulled in $2 million to $4 million their first year. But with name, image, and likeness deals, he could rake in that much or more right here at Duke, making this a smart play on both sides. Fans and analysts are buzzing because Ngongba exploded last season. As a freshman in 2024-25, he averaged under four points in ten minutes, but jumped to ten points, nearly six rebounds, over two, assists, and a block per game on 60% shooting in 22 minutes as a sophomore. Duke turned into a defensive beast and playmaker. His advanced stats back it up too.

1:01He ranked top ten nationally in defensive and overall impact ratings. Losing him would have hurt bad, especially with Malik Brown out of eligibility and Duke already third in defensive efficiency. This return gives the Blue Devils real continuity and a veteran anchor down low, boosting their ceiling big time for next year. The dire squad looks stacked heading into the fall.