Tribute to Big Duke Basketball Signee is Out With Foot Injury’

One of Duke basketball’s two Paul VI Catholic prizes is not in action this week.

Four-star wing Darren Harris continues to shine for Paul VI Catholic (Va.), a prep powerhouse that has recently churned out two Duke basketball players in guards Trevor Keels and Jeremy Roach. But Harris’ teammate, fellow 2024 Blue Devil signee Patrick Ngongba II, is out of commission due to a foot injury.

Ngongba, a 6-foot-11, 235-pound five-star center who ranks No. 22 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, underwent successful foot surgery in November, recruiting insider Adam Zagoria reported on Wednesday after speaking to Paul VI Catholic head coach Glenn Farello.

“Pat is recovering from foot surgery and is out indefinitely,” Farello told Zagoria. “We don’t know yet [when he’ll return to action]. It’s too early to tell.”

Meanwhile, Harris helped lead the Panthers to an 80-61 win over Millennium (Ariz.) on Monday in their first outing at the prestigious City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.

In his 23 minutes on the field, the 6-foot-6, 195-pound touted sniper recorded 17 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and zero turnovers.

Darren Harris and Patrick Ngongba II will join three other players who signed national letters of intent during the early signing period in November.

Duke’s top-ranked basketball package features the cycle’s No. 1 overall talent, Montverde Academy (Fla.) five-star forward Cooper Flagg. Not to mention two additional five-star seniors in Kon Knueppel of Wisconsin Lutheran and Isaiah Evans of North Meck (N.C.).