Note #062: Patrick Ngongba (Duke Dynasty)
Duke University big man Patrick Ngongba considered going pro, but chose to return to Durham for his junior 2026-27 season.
As a sophomore in 2025-26, the 6'11" Ngongba continued developing his inside presence (over 32 GP, 21.9 MP/G):
- 10.1 PPG
- 5.8 RPG
- 2.0 APG
- 0.6 SPG
- 1.1 BPG
Since 1947-48, just one NCAA Division I men's player besides Ngongba averaged 10+ PPG, 5.5+ RPG, 2+ APG, 0.5+ SPG, 1+ BPG in 22 MP/G or less (min. 30 GP):
Drew Scharnowski (2025-26) - 10.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.3 BPG (30 GP, 21.8 MP/G)
Scharnowski, a junior at Belmont above, met this criteria in the same season as Ngongba!
And, following that season, Scharnowski entered the portal and transferred to... Duke! Where he will be Ngongba's teammate in 2026-27!
If we remove the GP floor, two more names surface:
1. Jalen Johnson (2020-21) - 11.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.2 BPG (13 GP, 21.4 MP/G)
2. Doctor Bradley (2025-26) - 11.9 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.1 BPG (8 GP, 22.0 MP/G)
Johnson (a freshman that year) also played for Duke!
Bradley (a senior), who had one of the more unique college basketball routes, also qualified in 2025-26 like Ngongba and Scharnowski. So, of four instances over a ~78-year span, three occurred in one season.
As we often do, let's spin this and look at Ngongba via per 40:
- 18.5 PTS/40 MP
- 10.6 TRB/40 MP
- 3.7 AST/40 MP
- 1.1 STL/40 MP
- 1.9 BLK/40 MP
Seven NCAA DI men's players since 1947-48, besides Ngongba, notched 18.5+ PTS/40 MP, 10.5+ TRB/40 MP, 3.5+ AST/40 MP, 1+ STL/40 MP, 1.5+ BLK/40 MP in their sophomore season (min. 30 GP, stats below are per 40):
18.5-19.9 PTS/40 MP
1. Greg Monroe (2009-10) - 18.9 PTS, 11.3 TRB, 4.4 AST, 1.4 STL, 1.8 BLK (34 GP, 34.2 MP/G)
2. Alvaro Folgueiras (2024-25) - 19.3 PTS, 12.4 TRB, 4.3 AST, 1.9 STL, 1.6 BLK (35 GP, 29.3 MP/G)
20-22 PTS/40 MP
3. Ethan Happ (2016-17) - 20.0 PTS, 12.9 TRB, 4.0 AST, 2.6 STL, 1.7 BLK (37 GP, 27.9 MP/G)
4. Lamar Odom (1998-99) - 20.2 PTS, 10.8 TRB, 4.4 AST, 1.0 STL, 1.8 BLK (32 GP, 34.9 MP/G)
5. Kyle Filipowski (2023-24) - 21.6 PTS, 10.9 TRB, 3.7 AST, 1.5 STL, 2.0 BLK (36 GP, 30.4 MP/G)
22+ PTS/40 MP
6. Dedric Lawson (2016-17) - 22.2 PTS, 11.5 TRB, 3.8 AST, 1.5 STL, 2.5 BLK (32 GP, 34.5 MP/G)
7. Ahsan Asadullah (2019-20) - 24.9 PTS, 13.5 TRB, 5.3 AST, 1.6 STL, 1.6 BLK (31 GP, 29.8 MP/G)
Filipowski, like Ngongba and others above, also (shocker) played at Duke.
Monroe, well, rowed his way into Note #026 on Marquette-made man, Nolan Minessale.
Folgueiras isn't fools gold, just ask Isaac Celiscar (Note #007).
Lastly, Lawson rules in Note #036 on Arizonan Koa Peat.