Mackenzie Mgbako Down to Kansas, Indiana; Thoughts on Potential Landing Spots
(Updated Tuesday, May 9 at 3:46 p.m. ET)
One of the top players in the class of 2023 is still available, and his recruitment has drawn plenty of buzz in recent weeks. Since decommitting from Duke, five-star prospect Mackenzie Mgbako visited St. John's, Kansas and Indiana.
After cancelling a visit to Louisville, Andrew Slater reported Tuesday afternoon that Mgbako will decide between two schools: Kansas and Indiana.
The 6-foot-8 forward participated in the McDonald's All-American game following his senior year at Roselle Catholic in New Jersey. Mgbako is ranked No. 8 by Rivals, No. 9 in the ESPN Top 100, No. 10 by 247Sports and No. 12 by On3.
The Field of 68 Podcast, which features college basketball reporters Jeff Goodman, Rob Dauster and Greg Waddell, discussed Mgbako's recruitment on Tuesday's episode. This podcast was recorded prior to the announcement that Mgbako is down to Kansas and Indiana. (To watch the full episode, click here)
The segment started with Wadell asking Goodman what he's heard about Mgbako's recruitment.
"Honestly, not a lot," Goodman answered. "I know a bunch of schools think they have a good shot. It's almost got a little Hunter Dickinson vibe here with a lot of coaches not really having a good feel for where he's going to end up. Louisville felt really strong early when it all opened up, he just took a visit there. Kansas feels pretty good, too, from what I'm hearing. Obviously he's done the St. John's thing where he could be certainly more of a star close to home if he decided to play for Rick Pitino. I just honestly think a lot of people are right now in the dark with what he's going to do."
It's important to note that Mgbako did not visit Louisville, despite Goodman saying during the podcast he did. Reports from Adam Zagoria on Monday stated Mgbako planed to visit Louisville on Friday, but Jeremy Wahman of CardinalSportsZone.com reported Tuesday that Mgbako will no longer visit Louisville this weekend.
With Bill Self at the helm, plus the addition of Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson and returning pieces from last year's No. 1 seed team, Dauster sees Kansas as a fit for Mgbako. Kansas has the No. 6 recruiting class in 2023, headlined by five-star point guard Elmarko Jackson, and also brought in Towson shooting guard Nick Timberlake.
"I hope he ends up at Kansas," Dauster said. "Because Kansas just makes so much sense in terms of what they need, a shooter, and the role the can kind of play in that three-slash-four role. I think you can put him on the floor at the same time as Hunter Dickinson and KJ Adams and have it make sense. I think if you look at the guys that have played those wing roles for Bill Self over the years and the development we see out of them, I think it just makes a lot of sense for Mackenzie."
It's concerning that Indiana was not mentioned in the roughly three-minute conversation about Mgbako, but by no means does that eliminate the Hoosiers from this recruitment. Mgbako took an official visit to Indiana on Friday and Saturday, and his skillset fills a few areas of need for the coach Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers.
Indiana lost leading scorers Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino, as well as starters Miller Kopp, Race Thompson and sixth-man Tamar Bates, which opens up plenty of minutes and scoring opportunities for a player like Mgbako. And if Mgbako – already projected to be a first-round pick next year – is concerned about his professional development as a freshman under Woodson, look no further than Hood-Schifino, who'll likely be a first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft after one season at Indiana.
With all Indiana lost from last season, Woodson has replenished the roster with transfers Kel'el Ware (Oregon), Anthony Walker (Miami) and Payton Sparks (Ball State). Still, Indiana has two available scholarships for the 2023-24 season and needs a player or two, like Mgbako, who can provide scoring at the guard and wing positions.
Tuesday's full Field of 68 podcast, including the discussion on Mgbako at the 46:58 mark, is attached below.
Related stories on Indiana basketball
- MGBAKO PICTURED AT INDIANA: Mackenzie Mgbako, a five-star recruit in the class of 2023, took an official visit to Indiana over the weekend. Check out the pictures from Mgbako's visit, wearing the candy stripe pants, holding Indiana's Big Ten championship trophies and meeting with coach Mike Woodson. CLICK HERE
- WALKER JOINS HOOSIERS: Anthony Walker, a 6-foot-9 forward, is transferring to Indiana after four seasons at Miami under coach Jim Larrañaga. Indiana officially announced the addition of Walker to the 2023-24 roster on Tuesday. CLICK HERE
- MUSTAF PLANS VISIT TO INDIANA: Indiana will host an official visit for class of 2024 four-star guard Jaeden Mustaf on June 8-10. CLICK HERE
- JONATHAN POWELL PUTS IU IN TOP SIX: Jonathan Powell, a four-star shooting guard in the class of 2024, included Indiana in his top six college choices, along with Michigan State, Xavier, Ohio State, Clemson and Virginia Tech. Powell was teammates with Indiana commit Gabe Cupps at Centerville High School. CLICK HERE
- INDIANA PURSUING JORDAN DINGLE: Indiana basketball reached out to Penn guard transfer Jordan Dingle on Friday. Dingle averaged 23.4 points as a junior in 2022-23 en route to winning Ivy League Player of the Year. CLICK HERE
- ANTHONY WALKER COMMITS TO INDIANA: After four seasons at Miami, 6-foot-9 forward Anthony Walker announced Saturday that he's transferring to Indiana. Coach Mike Woodson has rebuilt Indiana's front court through the transfer portal with Walker, Kel'el Ware from Oregon and Payton Sparks from Ball State. CLICK HERE
