Duke is eagerly anticipating next season after a heartbreaking loss in the Elite 8 to UConn just three weeks ago. The Blue Devils are doing everything possible to avoid repeating the same fate as last season.
A crucial step in getting Duke back to the Final Four, as it did in the 2024-25 season, is ensuring key players return. Center Patrick Ngongba II announced on Monday that he will be returning for his junior season.
Ngongba Will Be a Key For Duke Next Season
Ngongba has spent the last two seasons at Duke, playing in 32 games this past season and starting 28. He averaged 10.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, but his standout attribute is his rim protection and exceptional defensive skills, boasting an average of 1.1 blocks per game.
The 6-foot-11 center wasn’t at his best during this year’s NCAA tournament due to foot soreness, which caused him to miss the last regular season game against North Carolina, the entire ACC tournament, and the first round of March Madness against Siena.
Ngongba returned for Duke’s Round of 32 game against TCU and faced off against St. John’s in the Sweet 16 and UConn in the Elite 8. However, it was clear throughout that he was still dealing with his injury.
It’s important for Ngongba to stay healthy this upcoming season, as his presence could help Duke become the top team in college basketball.
Ngongba had an opportunity to be a first-round pick in this year’s NBA draft, and it’s quite shocking that he didn’t even attempt to go through the draft process and the combine. He could have seen where he would be selected, and if he wasn’t satisfied with his projected position, he could have returned to Duke.
Cameron Boozer Still Hasn’t Made an NBA Decision
Duke’s roster may look a bit different next season, as there’s a chance it could lose its standout freshman forward, Cameron Boozer. There’s speculation that Boozer will declare for the draft, potentially securing a spot as a top-five pick. Yet, as of April 20, he still hasn’t made a final decision about his future.
Boozer’s twin brother, Cayden, announced on Thursday that he will not enter the draft and will head back to Duke for his sophomore season. This decision might encourage Cameron to return to school as well. Regardless, Cayden wasn’t expected to be drafted in the first round this year, which is likely the main reason he opted to go back to school.
If Cameron chose to return to school for one more season, it would be one of the biggest shocks in the history of college basketball.
The NIL era has encouraged players to return to college rather than rush into a professional career. This trend mainly applies to those who don’t have a real shot at being a top-five pick.
The smart decision for Boozer would be to enter the draft, but if he wants to play with his brother one more time, returning to Duke could be a viable option and try to win the national championship next year.
Duke Announces Major Development as Cameron Boozer’s NBA Draft Decision Looms