By ADAM ZAGORIA
Five-star former Duke commit Mackenzie Mgbako is down to two schools and will announce on Friday.
The 6-foot-8 Roselle Catholic (NJ) forward is considering Kansas and Indiana after recent visits, sources confirmed. He cut St. John’s and Louisville.
Andrew Slater first reported the news.
Indiana currently has two commits in 2023 in point guard Gabe Cupps and shooting guard Jakai Newton, along with three transfers in forward Anthony Walker (Miami) and centers Ke’lel Ware (Oregon) and Payton Sparks (Ball State).
“Coach [Mike] Woodson obviously has the NBA background which could be very appealing to a player who projects as a 1st-round pick,” said Roselle Catholic coach Dave Boff, who has won four New Jersey Tournament of Champions titles and is headed to a new coaching job next season.
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 Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson, Towson transfer Nick Timberlake and Texas transfer Arterio Morris.
“Coach Self has done a great job recruiting Mackenzie since he reopened his commitment,” Boff said. “They have presented a good plan of how he can impact their program this upcoming season and also develop him for the future.”
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. 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.
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