A familiar and unwelcome sight has cast a shadow over Duke basketball’s early summer workouts, as promising sophomore center Patrick Ngongba II was recently spotted in a walking boot. Photos circulating from practice sessions this past weekend, Saturday, June 21, 2025, show the 6-foot-11 big man on the sideline, sparking immediate concern among the Blue Devils fanbase and coaching staff. This development is particularly worrisome given Ngongba’s history of foot injuries, which significantly impacted his freshman campaign and even his final high school season.
The timing of this potential setback couldn’t be worse for Ngongba or for Duke’s preparations for the highly anticipated 2025-26 season. After a tremendous 35-win season that saw the Blue Devils capture both the ACC regular season and conference tournament titles and reach the Final Four, Duke is undergoing a significant roster overhaul. While Coach Jon Scheyer is reloading with another top-tier freshman class, headlined by the highly touted Boozer twins, Cameron and Cayden, the team is also navigating the departures of several key rotation players who declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, including Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach, Tyrese Proctor, and Sion James.
In this context of significant turnover, the healthy and rapid development of returning sophomores like Ngongba, Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster, and Maliq Brown is absolutely critical. Many believed Ngongba was poised for a breakout season, expected to take on a much larger role in the frontcourt. His presence and health are paramount to Duke’s success in the upcoming year.
The sight of Ngongba in a walking boot immediately triggers alarm bells due to his well-documented history of foot issues.
- High School: Ngongba, a five-star prospect coming out of Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, Virginia, missed nearly his entire senior season (2023-24) due to a foot injury. This limited his development and preparation heading into his freshman year at Duke.
- Freshman Season (2024-25): Upon arriving in Durham, Ngongba’s foot injury continued to plague him. He was held out of practices and missed the first two weeks of his freshman season, only making his debut on November 16, 2024, against Wofford. He spent a significant portion of the season limited, gradually working his way back. While he averaged just 10.6 minutes per game across 30 appearances, contributing 3.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.5 blocks, and 0.4 steals, his efficiency was notable (shooting 71.9% from the field). Crucially, he showed flashes of his high potential late in the season, particularly when Maliq Brown was sidelined with his own injury. Ngongba had a breakout performance against North Carolina in the ACC Tournament with 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting, and followed it up with 8 points in just 12 minutes during Duke’s Sweet 16 victory over Arizona. These performances highlighted his ability to be a productive center when healthy.
The recurrence of a foot issue, even if precautionary or minor, raises concerns about the chronic nature of the injury and its potential to linger throughout his collegiate career. For big men, foot injuries can be particularly problematic, often requiring extensive recovery periods and potentially impacting long-term mobility.
The expectation for the 2025-26 season was that Ngongba, now a sophomore, would form a formidable center duo with senior Maliq Brown. This pairing offers different skillsets, providing Coach Scheyer with flexibility depending on matchups. Brown is known for his tenacious rebounding and defensive versatility, while Ngongba brings true rim protection, a soft touch around the basket, and good passing ability for a big man.
However, Ngongba’s current situation puts pressure on this frontcourt rotation. While Duke has added Rice transfer center Iffy Ufochukwu, he is largely unproven at the Power Five level. If Ngongba’s injury proves to be more than just a minor setback, the responsibility on Brown and Ufochukwu to anchor the paint will increase significantly. This is a particularly sensitive area for Duke, as center depth was not considered a major strength even with Ngongba healthy.
Duke fans, who are known for their passion and scrutiny, have reacted to the news with a mix of frustration and worry. Comments on social media posts featuring Ngongba in the boot highlight a recurring theme of Duke players facing injury setbacks during critical offseason periods. Phrases like “Every. Single. Year. Man. What kinda drills we doing at Duke tho?” and “One of two players Duke cannot afford to miss time this year. Hopefully it’s minor,” reflect the anxiety surrounding player health, especially for key contributors.
The Duke coaching staff, known for its guarded approach to injury updates, has yet to issue an official statement on the nature or severity of Ngongba’s injury. This lack of immediate information often contributes to increased speculation among the fanbase.
The good news for Duke and Ngongba is that it is still very early in the offseason. The college basketball season doesn’t officially tip off until early November, with Duke’s opener against the Texas Longhorns anticipated around November 4, 2025. This provides Ngongba with approximately five months to recover and rehabilitate, if the injury is indeed minor.
However, missing crucial summer workout time is far from ideal, especially for a player expected to take a significant leap in his sophomore year. The summer months are when players make substantial improvements in their strength, conditioning, and skill development, integrating into new team schemes and building chemistry with incoming freshmen. Any prolonged absence could hinder Ngongba’s ability to maximize his potential and be fully prepared for a demanding season.
The Duke Blue Devils are projected to be one of the top teams in the nation for the 2025-26 season, despite their youth and roster changes. Their success will hinge heavily on the development of their returning players and the seamless integration of their new talent. Patrick Ngongba II is a pivotal piece of that puzzle. The hope for the Duke faithful is that this walking boot is merely a precautionary measure, and that their promising big man will be back on the court and at full strength well before the season officially begins, ready to fulfill his potential as a dominant force in the paint. The next few weeks will be closely monitored for any official updates from the program regarding his status.
