Blue Devil Country

Ex-Duke basketball signee Mackenzie Mgbako schedules visits

Perhaps the 2023-24 Duke basketball squad won't face Mackenzie Mgbako.

Matt Giles

Ex-Duke basketball signee Mackenzie Mgbako schedules visits
Ex-Duke basketball signee Mackenzie Mgbako schedules visits /
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Roughly two weeks after asking Duke basketball to release him from his national letter of intent, Mackenzie Mgbako appears to have compiled a list of favorites in his reopened recruitment.

According to a tweet on Thursday afternoon from Zagsblog's Adam Zagoria, Mgbako plans to visit St. John's, Kansas, Indiana, and Louisville before deciding on a destination.

The 6-foot-8, 210-pound small forward, a versatile five-star prospect who ranks No. 8 overall on the 247Sports 2023 Composite, will begin with a trip to St. John's this weekend. Zagoria did not note the dates for the other three visits.

Last week, new St. John's head coach and Hall of Famer Rick Pitino visited Mgbako, a New Jersey native who played his final season of high school ball for New Jersey prep powerhouse Roselle Catholic. Undoubtedly, Pitino and his crew now seem to be a legit player for his services.

Meanwhile, many have assumed Louisville is the frontrunner, partly due to the Cardinals boasting assistant Nolan Smith. The 2010 Duke basketball national champ helped the Blue Devils land a commitment from Mgbako last April when he was still on the coaching staff at his alma mater.

Assuming the Duke basketball non-conference schedule doesn't somehow include St. John's, Kansas, or Indiana, possibly the only way the 2023-24 Blue Devils would square off against Mackenzie Mgbako in the regular season is if he chooses fellow ACC program Louisville. They will face the Cardinals twice, both home and away.

RELATED: Duke adds three more opponents to its non-conference schedule

Although there was initially some chatter about the UNC coaches potentially pursuing their archrival's former top 2023 recruiting prize, that now doesn't seem likely in light of his scheduled visits.

Mgbako was a McDonald's All-American and is the highest-ranked 2023 recruit still up for grabs.

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

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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.

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