Pros:

• handles contact well

• likely the best passing big in the class; great in face up/post

• great touch especially in close

• good at boxing out; projects to rebound well

• solid screener; good relative to most prospects

• good rim protector; racks up a ton of blocks due to insane timing

Cons:

• lack of mobility and vertical athleticism; hinders his rim protection

• does not stretch the floor

C: great starter

F: doesn’t survive rookie contract

5 out hub

Jakob Poeltl

Elite FTr, draws big pressure on the rim. He’s a gifted passer with great vision and causes problems on the offensive boards. The issue is, none of this shows up on tape or in big games - seems a very spreadsheet specialist. Not sure he’s the greatest athlete and he just moves heavy. Haven’t seen evidence of him being a confident drop or switch defender. I can see teams swinging for the playmaking hub upside, but I’m not convinced.

Interior 2-way big STRENGTHS

• Plays steady and beats opponents with strength

• Polished post-game and a skilled inside scorer

• Excellent rebounder and rim protector with great shot-blocking skills

• Advanced finishing skills, unphased by contact

• Very smart passer with good feel for the game

• Genuine lob threat and gets plenty of second-chance buckets

WEAKNESSES

• Mobility and footwork

• Not much of an outside threat, poor-looking jumpshot

• Below-average athlete, leans on size and strength

• Struggles to guard in space

• Has an injury history

PLAYS LIKE: Yves Missi

21- Patrick Ngongba II (Duke, C)- S: nice moves to get to the rim (mobile), pretty good at free throws for a center, good in the post with other bigs, pretty effiecnt around the rim, hustling to tap the rebound to his teammates, a pretty good rim protector at the rim, good running with his pint guard to the rim

W: little fouls at times,

It feels like every year we can count on one of Duke or Kentucky, or both, to have freshman centers who are very raw and don't offer a ton of college production but have massive long-term potential. Patrick Ngongba II is exactly that. He does not flash great stats or production at Duke right now but all it takes is watching their games to see the vision. He obviously has the physical tools at 6'11 and 250lbs with great mobility; but he also has nice touch at the rim and really impressive instincts on both ends of the floor. I am not sure you can profile him to ever be much more than a 8-12 point scorer who gets most of that off lobs and offensive rebounds, but his value will stretch far beyond putting the ball in the basket. He already looks like a really nice connector and facilitator as a big man, a skill that is growing in value exponentially. On defense you know what you're getting; a guy capable of holding his own in most matchups and on the switch and a natural rim protector. Being from Duke you instantly think of recent guys like Maluach and Lively when you hear these traits and I think that is reasonable to compare him to but I would be quite surprised to see him drafted as high as either of them were. I think he's a late first rounder who will go to a playoff team looking to lock down a long term back up center.

NBA Comp: Nic Claxton/Jakob Poeltl