Blue Devil Country

Duke basketball recruiting: Prized commit announces transfer

A future Blue Devil is teaming up with a future Tar Heel.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball recruiting pledge Mackenzie Mgbako (Alexander Lewis-USA TODAY Sports)
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All day on Monday, Duke basketball pledge Mackenzie Mgbako advertised an announcement countdown on his Instagram page. The uncertainty about the subject of the supreme 2023 forward's news to come caused some Blue Devil fans to flip between worry and excitement modes, wondering if he may decommit or reclassify.

Nope.

Instead, Mgbako finally revealed on Monday night that he's transferring from Gill St. Bernard's School (N.J.) to prep powerhouse Roselle Catholic (N.J.) for his senior year.

The 6-foot-8, 200-pound five-star is a physical, multidimensional prospect who remains the highest-ranked member of Duke's four-deep top-ranked class at No. 2 overall on the 247Sports 2023 Composite. Mgbako also remains first-year head coach Jon Scheyer's most recent recruiting pickup after joining "The Brotherhood" in April.

All three other 2023 Blue Devil prizes also boast five-star ratings: Notre Dame High School (Calif.) point guard Caleb Foster, Centennial High School (Calif.) shooting guard Jared McCain, and Windermere High School (Fla.) power forward Sean Stewart.

Top UNC and Duke basketball pledges to be on the same team

Interestingly, for one season at Roselle Catholic, Mackenzie Mgbako will be teammates with a future rival: UNC's premier 2023 pledge, five-star combo guard Simeon Wilcher, who ranks No. 13 in the class.

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Mgbako and Wilcher will likely be one-and-done collegians. After all, way-too-early 2024 mock drafts paint them as first-rounders, with Mgbako appearing as a projected lottery pick.

Nevertheless, they'll face each other at least twice come the 2023-24 season while donning opposite shades of blue on Tobacco Road.

For now, though, they're joining forces.

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.

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