4-star '24 C Patrick Ngongba begins Kentucky official visit today

Kentucky men’s basketball welcomes another official visitor to Lexington this weekend.

Beginning Friday, Sept. 29, four-star class of 2024 center Patrick Ngongba will start his first visit with the Wildcats. The 6-foot-10, 235-pound big man is the third high school senior to take an official visit to UK this month, joining four-star point guard Boogie Fland (Sept. 8-10) and four-star wing Billy Richmond (Sept. 15-17).

Ngongba is down to a group of eight finalists, which he announced in July. Kentucky, one of the perceived frontrunners in this recruitment, made the cut, as did Michigan, Duke, Kansas State, UConn, Indiana, Providence, and Kansas. He has taken two official visits so far, a trip to Michigan the weekend of Sept. 8-10 and one to Providence back in May. Ngongba is considered the No. 21 overall class of 2024 prospect and a top three center in the nation by the On3 Industry Ranking.

Obviously a big weekend on the gridiron as Kentucky hosts Florida, but the ‘Cats also have a BIG time basketball official visit taking place.

Patrick Ngongba, the #3 center in the Class of 2024, will be in Lexington this weekend.

Highly skilled big man had a GREAT summer.

— Brandon Ramsey (@BRamseyKSR) September 29, 2023

Kentucky appeared to come on late in this recruitment but has quickly made up plenty of ground. One day after the Wildcats extended him an offer, he included them among his top eight. UK head coach John Calipari paid Ngongba a visit earlier this month, too. He has upcoming official visits locked in October with UConn (Oct. 13-15), Duke (Oct. 20-22), and Kansas State (Oct. 27-29). Kentucky has the chance to make a significant pitch this weekend.

“For one, I want to go to a school that can develop me,” Ngongba recently told On3 about what he’s looking for in a college program. “I want to get to the next level, so a program and a coach that can get me there. Also, I want to go somewhere that has a family environment. A place I can bond with the players, play video games and hang out.

“How the coaches play, how they look to use me in the system will definitely be a factor and something I look at, but it won’t be the biggest thing for me.”

Ngongba’s stock received a significant boost due to his play on the EYBL circuit this summer with Team Takeover. Prior to Peach Jam, he played in 16 games and put up solid numbers: 12.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 19.3 minutes per contest. Ngongba’s efficiency is what stands out though — he hit over 70 percent of his total field goals during that span. He’s also considered one of the top rebounders in all of high school hoops.

The Wildcats currently have one commit locked in for the 2024 recruiting cycle, four-star big man Somto Cyril. Five-star big Jayden Quaintance (who will be required to spend at least two years in college) will also officially visit Kentucky, which is scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 20. Will Kentucky end up with all three?