4-star '24 C Patrick Ngongba earns Kentucky offer after shining at Peach Jam

After shining on a massive stage last week at the 2023 Peach Jam Tournament in North Augusta, SC, Patrick Ngongba has earned himself a scholarship from the Kentucky Wildcats.

Ngongba, a 6-foot-10, 215-pound class of 2024 center who plays his high school ball for Warrenton (VA) Paul VI Catholic, announced his Kentucky offer on Monday afternoon through social media. The rising junior is considered a four-star prospect and the No. 26 overall recruit in the ’24 class according to the On3 Industry Ranking. Ngongba holds additional offers from the likes of Duke, Kansas, UConn, Indiana, Michigan, and plenty of others. He also announced an offer from Texas on Monday.

Suiting on the Nike EYBL circuit for Team Takeover, which won the 2023 Peach Jam Tournament on Sunday against Vegas Elite, Ngongba has seen his stock soar in recent months. During his squad’s Peach Jam run, he appeared in seven games for Team Takeover, averaging 9.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.0 blocks in 19.6 minutes per outing while shooting an impressive 73.8 percent from the floor.

Ngongba is the 13th class of 2024 prospect to announce an offer from the Wildcats. Kentucky currently has one commit locked in for that cycle, four-star big man Somto Cyril.

Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Kentucky @KentuckyMBB @UKCoachCalipari pic.twitter.com/JpY4Iqt3hH

— Patrick Ngongba II (@NgongbaPatrick) July 10, 2023

As mentioned, Ngongba’s stock received a boost due to his play on the EYBL circuit with Team Takeover. Prior to Peach Jam, he appeared in 16 games and put up impressive 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.

But he’s not entirely limited inside the paint. Counting last week’s Peach Jam stretch, he shot a combined 11-17 from beyond the arc on the EYBL circuit this year. Ngongba also shot 72.2 percent from the free-throw line coming into Peach Jam but struggled during the event with a mark of just 7-16 (43.8 percent).

So far, Ngongba has taken four official visits: Duke, Kansas State, UConn, and Providence. He recently told On3’s Jamie Shaw that he could make a decision in the fall, but that was before his recent influx of offers. Both of his parents played college basketball at George Washington where his mom was inducted into the George Washington Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004 and is now an assistant coach at George Mason.