Is Indiana’s Mackenzie Mgbako primed for a sophomore leap?
The start of Mackenzie Mgbako’s Indiana career didn’t go as many expected.
Mgbako, a five-star recruit who originally signed with Duke, said at IU’s media day last September he planned to be a one-and-done in Bloomington.
When asked by a member member whether he planned to be working out at an NBA training camp come the fall of 2024, Mgbako’s response was simple.
“Yes.”
But through the first five games of his Indiana career, the Gladstone, New Jersey native didn’t look the part of a one-and-done.
In Indiana’s season opener against Florida Gulf Coast – a 69-63 Hoosier victory – Mgbako shot just 2-for-6 from the field and scored four points.
Five days later, in a 72-64 victory against Army, Mgbako scored two points in 16 minutes.
Over the first five games, Mgbako scored in double figures once and averaged five points. He was often benched in late-game situations for defensive reasons.
Just a few games into the season, Mike Woodson offered a blunt assessment when asked about Mgbako’s minutes.
“He has to play harder and do the things that we want done on both ends of the floor,” Woodson said. “That might keep him in the game.”
As the season progressed, Mgbako did just that.
He was one of just three Indiana players to play in all 33 games last season. He improved his defense and rebounding. By season’s end, there was no subbing Mgbako out for defensive reasons. His 3-point shooting percentage climbed by the season’s end. In Big Ten games, Mgbako averaged 13.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and shot 37.8 percent on 3s.
In early March, the league’s coaches recognized him as co-Big Ten freshman of the year.
“You guys (the media) were down on him early when he was struggling and it’s a process,” Woodson said in late May at Huber’s Winery in Borden, Indiana. “You think because a guy wears a five-star, a four-star, that they can come into college and tear it up. It’s not that easy.
“It’s no different than going from college to the NBA, man. It’s a learning curve. I don’t give a shit how good you are. You have to learn. And it was a learning curve. It was an eye opener for him because he did struggle early. But he just kept working and working and working and he got better.”
To the surprise of some, Mgbako didn’t test the NBA pre-draft process last spring. He was all-in on returning to Bloomington for his sophomore season.
As Indiana’s success in the transfer portal snowballed, excitement grew for what Indiana and Mgbako could become in the 2024-25 season.
At 6-foot-8 and 217 pounds with a chiseled frame, Mgbako’s scoring ability became apparent by the end of his freshman season. And it’s something Indiana needs him to build on as a sophomore.
After his slow start to the season, Mgbako closed the season strong. There was no freshman wall. Over Indiana’s final six games – a stretch where the Hoosiers went 5-1 – he averaged 16.6 points. He carried Indiana to an 83-78 win at Maryland on March 3, finishing with 24 points on 8-for-15 shooting.
For an Indiana program that has struggled to make 3-pointers consistently since the Tom Crean era, Mgbako’s prowess from the perimeter was a welcome addition.
His overall 3-point shooting percentage of 32.7 last season wasn’t great, but he improved throughout his freshman year. In Big Ten games, he was the 21st-best perimeter shooter in the Big Ten (37-for-98). He also connected at a 76.1 percent clip from the line. The more Mgbako can use his body to his advantage and draw fouls, the better for Indiana.
Mgbako should greatly benefit from Indiana’s backcourt upgrades from the transfer portal. Myles Rice and Kanaan Carlyle are both capable distributors, as is returnee Trey Galloway, who had the sixth-best assist rate in the conference last season. With guards who are more consistent scoring threats and capable playmakers, defenses won’t be able to key on Mgbako as easily.
“I can’t help but think that he’s going to continue to get better. I gotta push him,” Woodson said in late May. “He’s been working his butt off this summer. They’ve been all over the place. He’s been out in LA playing with a bunch of NBA guys working on his craft there with people that we know that can help him do some of the things that we already have taught him. So I can’t help but think that he’ll come back this year and make another step, which we need.”
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