Indiana announces addition of Mackenzie Mgbako for 2023-24 season

  • 05/16/2023 11:34 am in

Indiana officially announced the addition of Mackenzie Mgbako for the 2023-24 season earlier today.

Mgbako committed to the Hoosiers on May 12.

Here’s the full release from IU media relations:

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.—Indiana University men’s basketball coach Mike Woodson has announced that McDonald’s All-American Mackenzie Mgbako, a 6-8, 210 lb., small forward from Gladstone, New Jersey and Roselle Catholic High School, will join the 2023 recruiting class and play for the Hoosiers this fall. A consensus five-star recruit, he is ranked as the eighth best player in the Class of 2023 by Rivals.com, ninth by ESPN, and 10th by 247Sports.

Mgbako, who is considered one of the top offensive players in the country, also played in this year’s Nike Hoop Summit, and had 22 points and eight rebounds for the World team. He averaged 16.3 points and 9.2 rebounds in his only season at Roselle Catholic for Coach Dave Boff, helping them to a NJSIAA Non-Public B state title.

He is a two-time NJ.com first-team All-State selection. He averaged 19.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists as a junior at Gill St. Bernards School and was named Skyland Conference Player of the Year. He played with the New Jersey Scholars for Coach Jason Harrigan on the EYBL circuit and averaged 16.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in 12 games.

He is the son of C.Y. and Daphne Mgbako and has an older brother, Ife, an older sister, Mikaylah, and a younger brother, Ethan. He was born November 18, 2004.

He is the 33rd Hoosier recruit who has played in the McDonald’s All-American game. He and Oregon transfer sophomore center Kel’el Ware will give the Hoosiers two McDonald’s All-Americans on their roster for the first time since 2016-17. He is the highest rated Hoosier recruit since seventh ranked Romeo Langford chose IU in 2018.

Mgbako joins fellow incoming freshmen guard Gabe Cupps (91st, 247Sports) from Centerville, Ohio and guard Jakai Newton (114th, 247Sports) from Covington, Georgia and transfers Ware, junior forward Payton Sparks (Ball State) and graduate student forward Anthony Walker (Miami) as newcomers to the IU program.

WOODSON ON MGBAKO

“Mackenzie is a dynamic player and an outstanding young man from a great family. He has the chance to have an immediate impact on our program. He’s a tremendous offensive player who gives us athleticism, length and the ability to be an inside/out threat. He can beat people off the dribble, rebound, run the floor and guard multiple positions. Like most freshmen, he will benefit greatly from time in the weight room. He is a winner who has played against high-level competition and was a state champion in high school. We can’t wait to welcome him and his family to Bloomington.”

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