By ADAM ZAGORIA
Five-star former Duke commit Mackenzie Mgbako visited Kansas this week and will next trip to Indiana this weekend and then Louisville next week. He visited St. John’s last weekend.
“I spoke to Coach Self yesterday and they were excited to host Mackenzie,” Roselle Catholic coach Dave Boff told ZAGSBLOG. “They love his versatile game and ability to score the ball at all 3 levels.”
Kansas coach Bill Self, who owns two NCAA championship rings, sees Mgbako as a potential replacement for freshman Gradey Dick, an elite shooter who declared for the NBA Draft. Kansas has already added Towson transfer Nick Timberlake and Texas transfer Arterio Morris and remains involved for 7-foot Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson, who is also considering Villanova, Kentucky, Georgetown and Maryland.
“Mackenzie’s combination of size and athleticism coupled with his ability to shoot the ball will make him an impact player at the next level,” Jason Harrigan, who coached Mgbako and Kentucky commits Aaron Bradshaw and D.J. Wagner with the NJ Scholars Nike EYBL program, told ZAGSBLOG. “He works hard on his game and is a competitor.”
Five-star former @DukeMBB commit Mackenzie Mgbako will take visits to these 4 schools, per source, with @StJohnsBBall this weekend :
St. Johns
Kansas
Indiana
Louisville pic.twitter.com/FSwuQATQ1q— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 27, 2023
A McDonald’s All-American who also played for the World Team in the Nike Hoop Summit, Mgbako asked for his release from Duke earlier this month after freshman big man Kyle Filipowski announced he would return for his sophomore season, making Duke’s frontcourt even more crowded.
The Blue Devils are also bringing back Mark Mitchell while adding incoming forwards T.J. Power and Sean Stewart in the 2023 class. Mgbako, who transferred to Roselle Catholic from Gill St. Bernard’s before last season, plays with the NJ Scholars Nike EYBL program. He is ranked the No. 2 power forward in his class by 247Sports.com.
Class of 23 5-star @MackenzieMgbako is at Kansas after visiting St. John’s
Indiana and Louisville are next pic.twitter.com/BWcbQzJYQl
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) May 2, 2023
He initially chose Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils over Ohio State, Kentucky and Memphis.
Mgbako scored 13 points when the Lions won the Non-Public B state title over St. Rose on March 3. He averaged 16.3 points and 9.2 rebounds in 16 games en route to All-State honors this season at Roselle Catholic, the top-ranked team in New Jersey.
Photo via @MSwain247
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