Ndong’s Rise to National Prospect
This morning, Newman School and Middlesex Magic forward Philipe Ndong announced his commitment to Shaka Smart and Marquette, putting the finishing touches on a recruitment that took off quickly over the last several months.
Few players across the country have seen their stock rise quite like Ndong has since the grassroots season began in April. He entered the spring as a starter on Newman’s second team with plenty of upside, but was still unknown on the national level, and quite frankly even at the regional level, but it didn’t take long for that to change.
As Ndong continued to perform with the Middlesex Magic, college programs began taking notice. Offers came in from Ball State, Boston University, Iona, South Florida, Hofstra, and Old Dominion before Big East programs Marquette and Creighton joined the mix. In the span of just a few months, Ndong went from an intriguing local prospect to a nationally-ranked forward with multiple high-major programs pursuing him.
At 6-foot-8, Ndong brings an intriguing combination of length, mobility, and developing skill to the forward position. He still has a wiry frame and will likely need some time in the weight room before being ready for the physicality of the Big East, but there is plenty to work with long-term. One of the biggest developments in his game has come from behind the three-point line, where he connected at a 38% clip and showed that he can stretch the floor from the forward position.
That combination of size and shooting gives Ndong a foundation to build on, while his best basketball still appears to be ahead of him. More toughness and continued reps should only expand what he is capable of doing on both ends of the floor as he gets acclimated to the next level of the game.
Basketball also runs in the family. Philipe is the son of Boniface Ndong, a 7-foot Senegalese big man who put together a lengthy professional career that took him around the world. Boniface reached the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers before spending much of his career overseas, including helping Barcelona win the EuroLeague championship in 2010.
As Newman prepares to defend the multiple championships that they won last winter, Ndong will be a focal piece to their gameplan and success this season.
Philipe NDong