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Duke's Ngongba Returns, Freshman Boozer and Transfer Scharnowski Join

4/21/2026

30 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Duke center Patrick Ngongba II will return to the Duke basketball program next season and opt out of the NBA Draft.
Ngongba averaged 10.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists last season, earning honorable mention All-ACC.
He faced injuries during the NCAA tournament.
Duke retained freshman guard Cayden Boozer.
Duke added Belmont transfer Drew Scharnowski, who averaged 10.7 points last season.

History

Historical Context

Duke University's basketball program achieved a historic milestone in 1991 by winning its first NCAA Championship under Coach Mike Krzyzewski, led by star player Christian Laettner, who averaged 21.4 points per game. This victory marked the beginning of a dominant era, as Duke would repeat as champions in 1992, highlighting the significance of collegiate development for future NBA players like Patrick Ngongba II.

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Story summary

Duke center Patrick Ngongba II will return to the Duke basketball program next season and opt out of the NBA Draft.
Ngongba averaged 10.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists last season, earning honorable mention All-ACC.
He faced injuries during the NCAA tournament.
Duke retained freshman guard Cayden Boozer.
Duke added Belmont transfer Drew Scharnowski, who averaged 10.7 points last season.

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