NCAA Basketball: Analyzing 8 finalists for top-30 center Patrick Ngongba II
Providence Friars
New head coach Kim English is after a number of five-star prospects in the 2024 class, looking to make a big splash. The center position is the biggest need on paper, as both Josh Oduro and Will McNair Jr. are entering their final NCAA Basketball seasons.
When it comes to potential playing time, this could be the best possible option for Ngongba since there isn’t anyone else that would be on the roster. The only question would be whether or not Coach English is the best person to develop him into a future pro since he’s only been a D-I HC for a couple of years. So from that standpoint, he’d be a big risk.
UConn Huskies
When it comes to the development of centers, Coach Dan Hurley and UConn have plenty of momentum. Star big man Adama Sanogo was the leading scorer on the national champions team and his replacement, Donovan Clingan, is a consensus breakout candidate for next season.
The Huskies are likely losing Clingan after next season, so that would leave incoming freshman Youssouf Singare as the other big man on the roster. So Ngongba can come in and have a role early on but like with Cam Spencer replacing Jordan Hawkins, there’s always a chance that the team can replace Clingan with a future transfer the following offseason.