Kansas basketball: Mackenzie Mgbako to visit one more school before commitment

Mackenzie Mgbako began his visit with Indiana yesterday and has just one remaining before he decides where to go to school next season.

Kansas has two scholarships remaining following the departures of Kyle Cuffe Jr. and Zuby Ejiofor to the transfer portal. Duke de-commit Mackenzie Mgbako could fill one of these voids.

Mgbako, the No. 8 recruit in the Class of 2023, is one of the best players coming out of high school this year. The New Jersey native led Roselle Catholic to a state championship as a senior.

He requested a release from his NLI with Duke after Kyle Filipowski announced he would return for another season with the Blue Devils. His recruitment re-opened, and he immediately scheduled visits with St. John’s, Kansas, Indiana, and Louisville.

His visit with Indiana commenced yesterday. Following its conclusion, he only needs to head to Louisville, Kentucky, and he will likely have fixed on his destination after that.

Louisville was the initial favorite to land him, but KU has gained traction in his recruitment. Mgbako has ties to former Duke superstar Nolan Smith who won a national title with the school in 2010. He now serves as an assistant coach for the Cardinals.

No commitment date has been set yet for Mgbako. Sources close to the situation suggest it should come within the next week and perhaps as early as the next few days.

Even as an incoming freshman, Mgbako’s game is as developed as most D-I basketball players. The 6-foot-8 forward is one of the best shooters in his class and can get to the rim at will. Adam Finkelstein of 247 Sports released this scouting report on him last year:

"“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.”"

Adding Mgbako to the roster would bolster Bill Self’s squad tremendously. Hypothetically, he would slot next to Hunter Dickinson at the four and be a one-and-done with the Jayhawks.

Texas Tech’s Jaylon Tyson is another wing player with connections to Kansas, though he is expected to commit to Cal in the upcoming days.