After a few significant departures, head coach Jon Scheyer is expected to lead the Duke Blue Devils back to a position where they can challenge for a national championship.
The Blue Devils lost Tyrese Proctor, Kon Knueppel, and Cooper Flagg after a 35-4 season for Duke. Each of the three stars submitted an NBA Draft declaration for 2025.
Duke has some positive news, but Scheyer has to focus on rebuilding his squad. Before the deadline on Tuesday, the Blue Devils didn’t lose a single player to the transfer portal.
Former blue-chip prospect Patrick Ngongba will return to the Duke Blue Devils for his second season, the team announced on its official social media account on Wednesday.
Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach, Isaiah Evans, and Darren Harris were among the 2024 recruiting class that he joined.
According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Ngongba initially committed to Duke as the No. 26 overall player and the No. 6 center in the country.
Powerhouse teams nationwide, including Kentucky, UConn, Kansas, Indiana, and Notre Dame, actively pursued Ngongba prior to his decision to play for Scheyer and the Blue Devils.
Despite having a five-star rating going into his first year, Ngongba hardly ever played. ESPN reports that Ngongba averaged 3.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists while playing 10.6 minutes per game.
Ngongba will undoubtedly receive more playing time next season as a result of the large number of players departing the Duke Blue Devils for the NBA Draft.
In addition, Ngongba’s classmate Evans and Harris, both blue-chip athletes, will return to the Blue Devils for their second season.
