Duke Blue Devils
| HT/WT/WS | 6' 11", 250lbs |
| Age | 20 |
PTS
AST
REB
FG%
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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
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Like Mara, Ngongba can force teams to have to play wide and therefore creating it easier to get the defensive rebounds. Also a great rim protector.
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Shades of:
Projected Role:
Big Board Range:
Strengths
Weaknesses
Final Thoughts
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Low End: Median: High End: Pros: Defense, feel Cons: Athleticism Verdict: Athleticism is largely limited by his foot injuries and as a result, it is questionable if the transition to a P&R big can be seamless. Despite the limited ceiling, the defensive acumen and secondary passing makes for an intriguing bet. Scoring feel around the rim and perimeter shooting also opens up the game even more.
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Comp - Jaylin Williams Physical interior big who rebounds and competes defensively. Understands positioning and brings toughness. Offensive expansion beyond the paint is needed.
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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.
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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
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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
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W: little fouls at times,
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Not the biggest fan of Ngonba in terms of instant fit/defensive projections. Listed at 6'11", his rebounding numbers are unimpressive at 18.9 DRB% so far this season, which can likely be derived from his limited mobility and what will likely be a near-neutral wingspan, give or take a few inches. A Block% of 6.6% won;t fill any scouts or GMs with confidence, and he'll likely need ample G-league reps. The handling, feel, and vision, are all really impressive, with a streaky jumper that suggests there is spacing potential in a 5-out system at the next level.