Indiana men’s basketball freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako will be returning to the program for his sophomore season, according to a report from 247sports on Saturday.
Arriving in Bloomington with a 5-star label and plenty of hype from fans, Mgbako took time to adjust to the college game.
His defensive acumen was initially criticized heavily by head coach Mike Woodson, but Mgbako grew within the system and finished the year as a capable defender and explosive scoring threat.
In the final month of the season, Mgbako scored in double figures all but once in nine games and eclipsed the 20-point mark on three occasions. Mgbako began the year with inconsistent playing time, but he quickly became a difficult player to keep off the floor.
On a team devoid of 3-point shooters, Mgbako emerged as the Hoosiers’ most reliable outside option. Mgbako drained a team-high 50 triples on the year, 24 more than senior guard Trey Galloway, who finished second.
The 6-foot-8 Gladstone, New Jersey, native was Indiana’s top performer at the charity stripe, as well. Mgbako shot 82.1% from the line, good for ninth-best in the conference.
National top-10 class of 2023 prospect Mackenzie Mgbako will announce his decision on Friday, according to Andrew Slater.
Mgbako is down to Indiana and Kansas.
Update: His announcement is scheduled for 6 p.m. Eastern on Friday.
Mgbako has visited both Indiana and Kansas. He also visited St. John’s. Louisville was also in the mix before being eliminated.
Mgbako, a former Duke commit, is a five-star 6-foot-8 wing ranked No. 7 nationally in the 2023 class by 247Sports.
Mgbako is a big-time prospect from Roselle Catholic in New Jersey.
Mgbako originially chose Duke over Kentucky, Ohio State and Memphis on April 8, 2022. The 6-foot-8, 210-pounder also had scores of offers, including programs such as UConn, Louisville, UNC, Auburn, Georgetown, Michigan, LSU, St. John’s, UCLA and many more.
Mgbako player evaluation from 247Sports national analyst Adam Finkelstein:
“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.”
Oregon/Arizona State: Oregon is set to hire Arizona State’s Ra’Shaad Samples as its new running backs coach and assistant head coach, sources tell 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Before Arizona State, the now 29-year old Samples was the youngest position coach in the NFL as the running backs coach for the Rams. In addition to being regarded as one of the nation’s top recruiters, Samples helped ASU WR Elijhah Badger earn All-Pac 12 honorable mention recognition last season while serving as the Sun Devils’ pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach. Previously helped Ulysses Bentley become a Freshman All-American running back at SMU in 2020.
Illinois: Illinois defensive backs coach David Gibbs has resigned due to medical reasons. He is temporarily stepping away from the coaching profession. “Coach Gibbs has resigned from his position on the Illinois coaching staff and will be temporarily stepping away from coaching for medical reasons,” Illini head coach Bret Bielema announced. “We appreciate the contributions David has made since his arrival and wish him and his family all the best moving forward.”
Gibbs was hired in the offseason after most recently serving as a defensive backs coach at UCF in 2023.
UConn: UConn has hired Tennessee Tech receivers coach Brad Robbins as quarterbacks coach.
BLOOMINGTON — Indiana basketball forward Mackenzie Mgbako was named Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year alongside Iowa’s Owen Freeman as voted on by the coaches in the conference.
The Hoosiers are the first team in the conference to win consecutive Freshman of the Year accolades — Jalen Hood-Schifino won the award last season — since Michigan State’s Miles Bridges (2017) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (2018) did it.
Mgbako averaged 12.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 31 starts this season. He shot a team-high 81% from the free-throw line and 1.6 made 3-pointers. He led all Big Ten freshman in total points (377), points per game (12.2), 20-point games (3) and made free throws (82).
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