Pat Ngongba Makes HIs Decision

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Patrick Ngongba #21 of the Duke Blue Devils shoots free throws against the St. John's Red Storm during the second half in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images H ere’s some huge news for Duke Basketball: Pat Ngongba is coming back for his junior season.

That’s a really big deal for Duke, no pun intended. Big Pat showed a huge amount last season. He really helped shore up the interior defense, and his offense is subtle and effective.

He’s also a really good passer. A lot of people saw him as a first-round pick, and are wondering why he would return. With college basketball essentially being professional now, Ngongba might actually make more at Duke than he would in the NBA.

This would obviously be different if he were a sure-fire lottery pick, but this year’s draft looks to be historically deep. Next year’s? Not so much.