Blue Devil Country

Ex-Duke Basketball Signee Mackenzie Mgbako Heads to Kansas for Visit

Duke basketball's former recruiting prize is now checking out the Jayhawks.

Matt Giles

Ex-Duke Basketball Signee Mackenzie Mgbako Heads to Kansas for Visit
Ex-Duke Basketball Signee Mackenzie Mgbako Heads to Kansas for Visit /
In this story:

Mackenzie Mgbako, once the highest-ranked piece to the 2023 Duke basketball class at No. 8 on the 247Sports 2023 Composite, visited St. John's over the weekend.

Judging by the pictures, the 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward out of Roselle Catholic (N.J.) enjoyed the trip. No, it wouldn't be a shock if he became part of Rick Pitino's roster overhaul in Queens.

But Mgbako, who asked the Blue Devils to release him from his national letter of intent a few weeks ago, plans to check out three more schools before deciding on a winner. And up next is blueblood Kansas, where he would have to compete for minutes on a loaded roster likely to yield a spot in the top 10 to begin the season.

According to a tweet from Cerebro Sports' Andrew Slater, the five-star McDonald's All-American will visit Bill Self and his staff in Lawrence on Monday night.

Interestingly, his first two visits since his decommitment from the Blue Devils are to programs with Hall of Fame national championship head coaches.

As Zagsblog's Adam Zagoria recently reported, Indiana and Louisville are the other two programs penciled in to host Mackenzie Mgbako. However, there's been no word yet on the dates for those trips.

RELATED: Duke Battling Former Blue Devil for Premier 2025 Guard

Meanwhile, despite losing out on Mgbako, Duke basketball's 2023 haul remains No. 2 in the national rankings. Jon Scheyer's four five-star newcomers will likely arrive in Durham for summer school and chemistry-building workouts in late June.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for more Duke basketball recruiting updates.

Published
Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

Home/Recruiting