Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
By ADAM ZAGORIAMackenzie Mgbako, the 6-foot-8 Class of 2023 forward from Gill St. Bernard’s (NJ) and the NJ Scholars Nike EYBL program, took his official visit to Memphis this weekend.
Mgbako, ranked the No. 3 prospect in his class by 247Sports.com, posed for pictures with his cousins and the Memphis staff, Penny Hardaway, Rasheed Wallace, Larry Brown and Cody Toppert.
He also took pictures with Memphis freshmen Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren, who played on the EYBL circuit with Bates Fundamental and Team Final.
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Mgbako has also visited Duke and Kentucky, the latter with his AAU teammate D.J. Wagner, the No. 1 prospect in 2023.
He is also considering visits to Michigan and Rutgers, his high school coach said.
“He shoots the ball extremely well, handles the basketball at 6-8 with ease and has a great feel for the game,” Gill coach Mergin Sina said. “Once he gets a little stronger, look out! He reminds me of a younger Kevin Durant. Upside through the roof!”
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Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
