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Duke center Patrick Ngongba to return to Blue Devils for junior year
Duke sophomore Patrick Ngongba announced Monday on Instagram that he will return to the program for the 2026-27 season and forgo the 2026 NBA draft. liveiplscore.homes
Ngongba averaged 10.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, two assists and 1.1 blocks while shooting 60.6% from the field in 32 appearances. He scored in double figures 20 times, including 17 points, eight rebounds, two assists and one block on Jan. 12 in a win over Niagara.
The 6-foot-11 center ranked eighth among all players in the country in win shares per 40 minutes (.247) and 18th in defensive box plus-minus (plus-5.7). He was one of 14 players in the ACC to record multiple blocks in nine or more games.
Ngongba was considered a potential late first-round pick this year because of his defensive skill set and ability to protect the paint. He also showed vast improvement on offense in a larger role for Jon Scheyer, raising his scoring from 3.9 points per game last year.
With Ngongba set to return next season, Scheyer will also have Cayden Boozer back after a productive freshman campaign. The team is awaiting decisions from sophomore Isaiah Evans, junior Caleb Foster and freshman Dame Sarr.
The Blue Devils are adding four top-100 recruits for next season in Cameron Williams (No. 3), Deron Rippey Jr. (No. 10), Bryson Howard (No. 15) and Maxime Meyer (No. 84). The group is considered the early favorite to win the title next year.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Duke news: Patrick Ngongba to return to Blue Devils for junior year
Where did John Mateer rank in USA TODAY Sports SEC QB rankings?
The Oklahoma Sooners will conclude spring football this week with a couple more practices before concluding spring ball for 2026. It was a strong performance from the Sooners' offense, particularly quarterback John Mateer and the rushing attack.
For Oklahoma to return to the College Football Playoff in 2026, OU will need both Mateer and the running game to improve significantly and be more consistent than they were a year ago. The Sooners have one of the better quarterbacks in the SEC, but Mateer ranked No. 7 in the SEC by Matt Hayes of USA TODAY Sports coming out of spring ball.
What looked like a breakout season in 2025 was sidetracked in late September by a thumb injury, and Mateer never really got it back. Five starters return on the offensive line. Better protection, better results. - Hayes, USA TODAY Sports
Mateer got healthier, and his grip got stronger as the season went on, and he finished with a pair of 300-yard passing performances to close the season. Healthy still, Mateer completed 12 of 19 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown. Along with the return to health of Mateer, the Oklahoma Sooners made a significant push in the offseason to improve the offensive talent.
They added wide receivers Trell Harris and Parker Livingstone, and while neither played in the spring game on Saturday, both are expected to contribute significantly in 2026. Another wide receiver transfer addition, Mackenzie Alleyne, has been a star of spring ball for the Sooners. He generated a lot of buzz in practice and built on that during the spring game with three receptions for 28 yards and a touchdown.
Oklahoma also brought in tight ends Hayden Hansen, Rocky Beers, and Jack VanDorsalaer to bolster the tight end room to help the Sooners improve the running game. Hansen and Beers combined for seven receptions for 99 yards in the spring game.
The transfer additions add to an offense that features five players returning with at least six starts last season and the addition of offensive tackle E'Marion Harris to provide veteran experience to a young and developing group up front.
And if the spring game is any evidence, the offensive line and the running game has improved as well.
Mateer is a good quarterback, capable of putting up big numbers for the Oklahoma Sooners offense. But with improved talent around him, he doesn't have to be everything for OU in 2026.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: John Mateer No. 7 in USA TODAY Sports SEC quarterback rankings
🚨 Lecce v Fiorentina: official calls on Banda, Stulic, Dodo, Solomon 👀
Matchday 33 of Serie A comes to a close with a relegation battle between Lecce and Fiorentina at the Via del Mare.
Paolo Vanoli’s Fiorentina are coming off a win against Lazio and are looking for an almost decisive result to secure their place in the division. La Viola sit 15th and are 8 points clear of Lecce, who are third from bottom.
Eusebio Di Francesco’s Salento side, coming off a defeat to Bologna, can no longer afford any slip-ups: a win would throw the survival race wide open again.
For Fiorentina, after their European elimination against Crystal Palace, it is time to focus only on the league. For Lecce, on the other hand, this is a true final.
Let’s take a look at the official line-ups.
LECCE-FIORENTINA
LECCE (4-2-3-1): Falcone; Veiga, Siebert, Tiago Gabriel, Gallo; Ngom, Ramadani; Pierotti, Coulibaly, N'Dri; Cheddira. Coach: Di Francesco
FIORENTINA (4-1-4-1): De Gea; Dodò, Pongracic, Ranieri, Gosens; Fagioli; Harrison, Mandragora, Ndour, Gudmundsson; Piccoli. Coach: Vanoli
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.
“He was great. It’s a combination of he just got his …
Justin Martinez: Isaiah Hartenstein was asked by @joe_mussatto about Jalen Williams’ performance in Game 1 against Phoenix: “He was great. It’s a combination of he just got his rhythm back. I think he had a good little stint at the end of the year to get back in rhythm. I think he did a great job on both ends of the court. People talk a lot about the offense, but just him defensively is always huge. I just think he did a good job of being aggressive and finding guys. I think when he does that, he’s at his best.”
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “He was great. It’s a combination of he just got his …
Bears exercising fifth-year option on OT Darnell Wright
The Bears are locking in one of their key offensive players for the 2027 season.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Chicago has picked up the fifth-year option on offensive tackle Darnell Wright.
The No. 10 overall pick of the 2023 draft, Wright is now set to make a projected $19.072 million guaranteed for 2027, the final year of his rookie contract.
The Bears may also negotiate a long-term deal with Wright.
A second-team All-Pro selection for the first time in 2025, Wright has started all 49 of his career games since Chicago made him a first-round pick out of Tennessee.