Former Duke Basketball Signee Now Visiting Nearby ACC School
Initially a 2023 Duke basketball recruiting prize, Mackenzie Mgbako is looking for a new home after spending two seasons at Indiana.
Former two-year Indiana forward Mackenzie Mgbako, once an early Duke basketball recruiting prize before decommitting late in the spring of 2023, recently entered the transfer portal. And after averaging double-digit points in each of his campaigns with the Hoosiers, the 6-foot-9, 222-pound New Jersey native is undoubtedly a coveted talent.
One program making significant noise in Mgbako’s new recruitment just so happens to be one of the Blue Devils’ ACC neighbors in the NC State Wolfpack, now under the command of a 42-year-old head coach in former McNeese State winning leader Will Wade.
In fact, Mgbako arrived in Raleigh for an official visit with Wade & Co. on Friday, NC State Wolfpack On SI confirmed.
After becoming the co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2023-24, Mackenzie averaged 12.2 points and 4.6 rebounds as a sophomore in Bloomington. He improved his shooting marks a smidge, knocking down 43.7 percent of his field goal attempts and 32.9 percent of his 3-point tries.
Mackenzie Mgbako now has two years of eligibility remaining.
Meanwhile, fourth-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff haven’t lost or landed a transfer this cycle.
Mackenzie Mgbako, a five-star forward and former Duke basketball signee, has reopened his recruitment after decommitting from Duke in April 2023. Since then, he has attracted attention from several ACC programs.
Recruitment Developments
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Louisville: Mgbako has been linked to Louisville, where former Duke assistant Nolan Smith is on staff. Smith’s relationship with Mgbako during their time at Duke could influence his decision.
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North Carolina: There is speculation that North Carolina is also interested in Mgbako. The Tar Heels’ pursuit adds another layer of intrigue to his recruitment.
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St. John’s: First-year head coach Rick Pitino has shown interest in Mgbako, with plans to visit him, indicating St. John’s potential involvement in his recruitment.
Recent Visits
Mgbako has taken official visits to Indiana and Kansas, narrowing his choices to these two schools. He recently canceled a scheduled visit to Louisville, focusing on his final decision.
As of now, Mgbako’s recruitment is ongoing, with no official commitment announced. His decision will significantly impact the ACC landscape, given his talent and potential contributions to whichever program he chooses.
