4-star C Patrick Ngongba sets official visit to UConn

Patrick Ngongba, a four-star center in the class of 2024, will take an official visit to UConn on June 12-14.

The 6-foot-10 junior prospect out of Fairfax (Va.) Paul VI Catholic ranks as the No. 93 overall player in the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking, the average from all four major recruiting sites. On3’s evaluators are higher on him, ranking him 70th overall in the class.

Ngongba has also taken official visits to Providence and Kansas State. Iowa, Virginia, and others are also involved. He discussed a handful of programs involved in his recruitment in a previous interview with On3.

It should also be noted that Ngongba and fellow four-star 2024 prospect Isaiah Abraham are cousins. They will be visiting Storrs together.

Ngongba talks schools

Kansas State: “My favorite part of the visit was probably walking around the campus and seeing everything. My relationship with Coach (Jerome) Tang is good. He reaches out to me like every week, twice a week, checks in on me, and just ask how I’m doing. I feel like they play through their bigs, so they get them the ball often and lets them make plays. I’ve got a real good relationship with Coach Jareem (Dowling).”

Iowa: “The head coach (Fran McCaffery) came all the way to our school just to meet with me and talk with me. That meant a lot just for him to come out, we didn’t have a practice or anything, just had a meeting and talked. They like to switch it up sometimes and let their bigs be versatile. He said their plan was to play me inside but run me out to the wing so and confuse the defender. Very versatile.”

Virginia: “They let their bigs get the ball in the low post and go to work. Their bigs set screens and roll for the ball, they stay active. The last game I went to there was the Duke game; that environment was crazy and wild. The whole game was intense. I’ve got a good relationship with Coach (Jason) Williford there.”

“I’ve been talking Iowa and Virginia about setting visits,” Ngongba said. “We don’t have any dates set yet, but I’m looking to go see them.”

What he’s looking for in a program

“I want to go to a school that has a good culture as we do here at PVI, a winning culture,” Ngongba said. “I’ll want to play for a coach who will develop me and help me get ready to play at the net level. I want to look at the systems and styles of play too, make sure the coaches run plays for their bigs and play through their bigs.”