KU, K-State make final eight for ESPN.com’s No. 17-ranked high school hoops prospect
Patrick Ngongba, a 6-foot-10, 235-pound senior-to-be from St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, Virginia, has cut his list of schools to eight, he reported Tuesday on Twitter.
Ngongba, who has visited Kansas State, Duke, UConn and Providence, also lists Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan. His list was posted on Twitter in a graphic created by On3.com’s Joe Tipton.
He has eliminated Texas, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Virginia, Pitt, Butler, Iowa and others, On3.com reported.
Ngongba is ranked No. 17 overall in the recruiting class of 2024 by ESPN.com and No. 32 by both Rivals.com and 247Sports.com.
Ngongba’s mother, Tajama Ngongba, scored a school-record 2,173 points in four seasons (1993-97) at George Washington University before heading to the WNBA. She is the school’s all-time leader in blocked shots (326) and second in total rebounds (970). Ngongba’s dad, Patrick Ngongba, was a starter at George Washington from 1993-97. He scored 498 points in four seasons.
He’s the cousin and high school teammate of Isaiah Abraham, a 6-7 guard/forward considering Marquette, UConn, Providence, Virginia Tech and others. Abraham is ranked No, 69 in the class of 2024 by Rivals.com.
Big man Derik Queen planning KU visit
Derik Queen, a 6-10, 245-pound senior forward from Montverde (Florida) Academy, will make an official recruiting visit to KU in September, JayhawkSlant.com reported Tuesday.
Originally from Baltimore, he is ranked No. 6 in the class of 2024 by 247Sports.com, No. 10 by ESPN.com, No. 19 by Rivals.com.
Queen also is being recruited by Maryland, Indiana, Auburn, Arizona and others. He was named MaxPreps Junior All-America honorable mention after averaging 11.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game during the 2022-23 season. He hit 61% of his shots.
KU also is recruiting Montverde senior Liam McNeeley, a 6-8, 210 small forward who is ranked No. 8 by Rivals.com and 247Sports.com and No. 11 by ESPN.com and On3.com. McNeeley is originally from Richardson, Texas. He has a final list of KU, Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama and Michigan.
KU is recruiting Montverde junior Cooper Flagg, a 6-8, 195-pound 16-year-old sensation who starred last week at Peach Jam.
Bethea fares well at Peach Jam
Jalil Bethea, a 6-4, 175-pound senior combo guard from Archbishop Wood Catholic in Warminster, Pennsylvania, who recently told Jayhawkslant.com he will visit KU on Aug. 31, dazzled at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam event last week in South Carolina.
Bethea averaged 18.7 points per game and shot 36.8% percent in front of numerous college coaches at Peach Jam.
“I’ve been watching Kansas basketball for a long time. Just being able to get on the campus is like a dream come true. Look at the players they’ve put in the league, the wings. The players they produce always seem to either go pro or have great college, or basketball, careers,” he told On3.com.
Bethea, who has already visited Temple and Syracuse and said he also may visit Miami and Alabama, is ranked No. 15 in the recruiting class of 2024 according to Rivals.com, No. 18 by 247Sports.com and No. 40 by ESPN.com.
“I want to go somewhere I am needed,” Bethea told On3.com. “A place that will give me an opportunity to play early. But also a place I am comfortable. I want to go to a home away from home. I’m going to look at the relationship with the coaches, I’ll go to the place I have the best relationship with. Play style will have an impact on me. I want to go somewhere that is geared toward me and my game. I like to play fast; go somewhere that spreads the floor out.”
Stephen Emmanuel to visit KU in September
Stephen Emmanuel, 7-0, 215 senior forward out of Dream Christian Academy in Glendale, Arizona, will visit KU in September, he told JayhawkSlant.com. He is ranked No. 110 in the class of 2024 by 247Sports.com and No. 117 by Rivals.com. He also is considering Arizona, Arizona State, Seton Hall and others.
As far as big men in the class of 2024, KU of course continues to pursue Flory Bidunga, a 6-9, 220 senior forward from Kokomo (Indiana) High School who has already visited KU. He’s ranked No. 4 in the country by Rivals.com.
