Five-star recruit includes Kentucky men’s basketball among his top three schools

The Kentucky men’s basketball program seems to have some serious momentum for the 2024 recruiting class.

UK now has two commits in that 2024 group — center Somto Cyril and guard Boogie Fland — and head coach John Calipari’s team finds itself well positioned to add to this with further commitments.

One of those potential future players is center Patrick Ngongba II, a five-star prospect who Wednesday included UK among his final three schools under consideration.

Duke and Kansas State were the other two schools that made the cut for Ngongba, who was measured at 6-foot-10 this month at a USA Basketball Junior National Team minicamp in Colorado.

While at the camp, Ngongba spoke to the Herald-Leader about his recruitment.

“Just a place where I can develop and get ready for the next level,” Ngongba said when asked about the important factors in his recruitment.

“A place that’s a family environment.”

Ngongba — who is ranked by the Recruiting Services Consensus Index, which combines the rankings from the nation’s top recruiting services into one single metric, as the No. 24 overall player in the 2024 class — took an official visit to Kentucky in late September.

While on his visit, Ngongba spent time with UK assistant coach Chin Coleman as well as former UK star Tyler Ulis, who joined the Wildcats as a student assistant coach last season.

Ngongba was also on hand for Kentucky football’s home win against Florida.

“It was a good visit overall,” Ngongba said, with a mention toward the family environment he noted at UK.

Ngongba plays prep basketball for St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Virginia, and had previously released a list of his top eight schools.

Duke, Kansas State and Kentucky were also among the schools in that top-eight list. The schools that Ngongba has now dropped from consideration are Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan and Providence.

Ngongba received a scholarship offer from Kentucky just one day before he announced this top-eight list.

Later this week, Ngongba will be taking a second visit to Kansas State. Last week, Ngongba took his second visit to Duke for the Blue Devils’ Countdown to Craziness event.

According to Joe Tipton of On3, Ngongba will make his college commitment on Nov. 4. The early signing period begins Nov. 8.

A breakout prospect following strong performances on the summer travel basketball circuit, Ngongba’s Team Takeover squad won the Peach Jam tournament to cap the Nike EYBL season in July.

In that championship game win, Ngongba had 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting from the field, along with five rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

“I feel like I’m good at playmaking, making plays for others,” Ngongba said. “I can shoot the three, I feel like I can rebound. The one thing I feel like I can work on is my ball-screen defense and just talking more overall, like communication.”