4-star '24 C Patrick Ngongba schedules official visit to Kentucky

Patrick Ngongba is down to eight college options. As he begins to wind down his recruitment, he’s scheduled four official visits for the fall.

According to On3’s Joe Tipton, one of Ngongba’s official visits will be to the University of Kentucky the weekend of Sept. 29. Ngongba is a 6-foot-10, 235-pound center out of Warrenton (VA) Paul VI Catholic who is ranked No. 26 overall in the class of 2024 by the On3 Industry Ranking. He’ll also visit Michigan (Sept. 8), Duke (Oct. 20), and Kansas State (Oct. 27). This will be his second trip to both Duke and Kansas State, which he’s visited unofficially, and his first to UK and Michigan.

The high school senior trimmed his list of schools down to eight back in July. Along with the four schools he’ll officially visit this fall, Ngongba is also considering UConn, Indiana, Providence, and Kansas. He’s already taken official visits to UConn and Providence this year. No official visits to Indiana or Kansas have been set at this time.

Patrick Ngongba, the No. 26 overall recruit in the 2024 class, tells me he’s scheduled the following official visits —

Michigan: Sept 8
Kentucky: Sept 29
Duke: Oct 20
Kansas State: Oct 27

The 6-10 center is currently considering eight schools 👇🏼https://t.co/sjwCve37XU pic.twitter.com/8ush9k4kTN

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) August 31, 2023

Ngongba earned his Kentucky offer back on July 10, just one day before he included the Wildcats among his top eight. There is no commitment date as of now, but the highly-ranked big man previously told On3 that he has plans to make his decision before the early signing period in November.

“For one, I want to go to a school that can develop me,” Ngongba 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 will also officially visit Kentucky, which is scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 20. Could UK add another nationally-ranked center down the road?