With the 57th pick that was acquired via trade on draft night, the LA Clippers selected Narcisse Ngoy, a talented big man from France. This selection seemed to be done for depth, as the center rotation already includes Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Isaiah Jackson, Baba Miller, and, at the moment, Brook Lopez. However, Ngoy announced on Instagram that he will honor his commitment to the Auburn Tigers and play the 2026-27 season in the NCAA.
But wait, how is this possible? Ngoy just had his name called. Well, Ngoy was automatically eligible for selection, because he was an international prospect, and will be used as a draft-and-stash. This means his rights will be retained, and he will still be able to participate at the collegiate level.
So, at the end of the day, Ngoy gets the best of both worlds; he fulfills the promise he made to Auburn’s men’s basketball program while remaining a part of an NBA organization.
Narcisse Ngoy can develop his game at Auburn to get ready for LA
While some fans may be eager to see what the LA Clippers have in Narcisse Ngoy, he’s in the perfect position to take his career nice and slow, and really develop at the college level with a spot in the NBA waiting for him. That's like music to a prospects ears, particularly one that could've easily gone undrafted.
On that note, much of Ngoy’s offense overseas depended on his teammates. There were minimal flashes of true post-work, playmaking, and shot creation. As a result, he committed to playing for the Auburn Tigers well before the draft with the mindset that a team wouldn’t take a chance on him.
Additionally, Ngoy is not really a floor spacer. He is simply someone who doesn’t demand touches, plays above the rim, and can provide top-notch defense. These had to have been the primary reasons why the Clippers picked him out of a bunch at the end of the night.
That said, Ngoy playing in the US, for the Auburn Tigers, gives him a full season to improve in the areas he needs the most attention. The hope is that, a year from now, he’ll be ready to join the Clippers’ rotation as a big man looking to move up in the rotation.
These types of situations are extremely rare. In the same breath, though, it has happened before, with Larry Bird, and it’s safe to say everything worked out exceptionally for him.
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