Blue Devil Country

Duke basketball recruiting: Blue Devils sign top-shelf small forward

The Duke basketball staff has gained signatures from all five 2023 commits.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball recruiting: Blue Devils sign top-shelf small forward
Duke basketball recruiting: Blue Devils sign top-shelf small forward /
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On Tuesday, the second-to-last day of the fall signing period, Roselle Catholic High School (N.J.) small forward Mackenzie Mgbako became the fifth and final 2023 Duke basketball early signee. The 6-foot-8, 210-pound five-star inked his national letter of intent alongside a couple of his high school teammates.

Interestingly, one of those teammates, five-star combo guard Simeon Wilcher, will be a rival to Mgbako next season as a member of the UNC basketball program. Wilcher ranks No. 19 overall on the 247Sports 2023 Composite.

Mackenzie Mgbako is a versatile, lengthy talent who ranks No. 5 among his peers, making him the highest-ranked prize in the Blue Devils' 2023 haul.

The other four Duke basketball signees are Montverde Academy (Fla.) five-star power forward Sean Stewart at No. 8 on the 247Sports 2023 Composite, Notre Dame High School (Calif.) five-star point guard Caleb Foster at No. 13, Centennial High School (Calif.) five-star combo guard Jared McCain at No. 18, and Worcester Academy (Mass.) five-star power forward TJ Power at No. 24.

Duke's class sat No. 1 in the country until earlier this week when the Kentucky basketball coaches landed the top-ranked high school senior in Camden High School (N.J.) five-star combo guard DJ Wagner.

RELATED: Blue Devils fall from the top spot in the 2023 recruiting arena

As a result, the Blue Devils dropped to No. 2 and will likely remain in that position until the end of the 2023 cycle. 

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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