Five-Star Recruit Mackenzie Mgbako Pictured During Official Visit to Indiana
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana hosted an official visit for one of the top players in the class of 2023 over the weekend.
Mackenzie Mgbako, a 6-foot-8 forward ranked No. 9 in the ESPN Top 100, arrived on campus Friday night and toured Indiana University throughout the weekend.
Originally committed to Duke, Mgbako requested a release from his National Letter of Intent on April 11. Since re-opening his recruitment, he's visited St. John's, Kansas and most recently, Indiana. Reports from earlier in the week said Mgbako would take a fourth and final visit to Louisville.
On Saturday, Andrew Slater posted a video of Mgbako wearing the cream and crimson alongside Indiana coach Mike Woodson.
Slater also shared pictures of Mgbako posing with Indiana's Big Ten championship trophies in front of the Hoosiers' five national championship banners.
Mackenzie Mgbako, a five-star recruit in the class of 2023, dons an Indiana uniform during his visit over the weekend.
via @Andrew__Slater on Twitter
Mgbako's parents came along for the visit, too, and took a picture with Woodson.
Mackenzie Mgbako wears the iconic candy stripe alongside his parents and Indiana coach Mike Woodson.
via @Andrew__Slater on Twitter
In the midst of an offseason with significant roster changes, Indiana has two available scholarships for the 2023-24 season. If Mgbako chooses Indiana, he'd join four-star guards Gabe Cupps and Jakai Newton in the Hoosiers' 2023 recruiting class.
Mackenzie Mgbako poses with Big Ten championship trophies during his visit to Indiana.
via @Andrew__Slater on Twitter
Indiana lost scholarship players Trayce Jackson-Davis, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Race Thompson, Miller Kopp, Tamar Bates, Jordan Geronimo and Logan Duncomb from the 2022-23 roster, but coach Mike Woodson has since added forwards Kel'el Ware (Oregon), Payton Sparks (Ball State) and Anthony Walker (Miami) through the transfer portal.
Landing Mgbako would be a major boost to Indiana's outlook for the 2023-24 season, giving the Hoosiers a versatile forward who can score at all three levels. A lot can change by next summer, but Mgbako is already projected to be a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Director of scouting for 247Sports Adam Finklestein wrote this about Mgbako:
"His shot-making from behind the arc is his best asset. He can also make the types of shots that translate to the next level - pick-and-pop threes, slipping out of ball screens to make shots on the move, or creating space with a series of side-step or step-back shots. The mid-post has long been a staple of his individual offense, but now he’s getting some easy points by moving without the ball more freely. Physically, Mgbako appears to be in the best shape of his career to date and was also productive enough on the glass to hold his own at the four. His swing skills are his defensive versatility and shot-creation abilities, both of which are rooted in his mobility, footspeed, and ability to play low to the ground when necessary. If those two areas develop, both his versatility and overall projection will go to new levels."
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