Blue Devil Country

Two Duke Basketball Signees Now Rank Above Mackenzie Mgbako

One could claim Duke basketball didn't lose its highest-ranked 2023 signee.

Matt Giles

Two Duke Basketball Signees Now Rank Above Mackenzie Mgbako
Two Duke Basketball Signees Now Rank Above Mackenzie Mgbako /
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From the time Roselle Catholic (N.J.) small forward Mackenzie Mgbako committed to the Duke basketball program in April 2022 until asking for a release from his national letter of intent a year later, pretty much every recruiting site had him as the highest-ranked 2023 prize for the Blue Devils.

Last summer, he reached as high as No. 2 on the 247Sports 2023 Composite.

But in the eyes of On3, which released its final 2023 ranking on Monday, Mgbako no longer sits above two of Duke's four remaining signees in Montverde (Fla.) power forward Sean Stewart (ranks No. 12) and Centennial (Calif.) combo guard Jared McCain (No. 13).

Mgbako, who appears to be nearing a decision with four schools seemingly in play (St. John's, Kansas, Indiana, Louisville), comes in at No. 15 on the On3 Ranking. And he boasts only a four-star rating, albeit as the highest-ranked four-star.

On3 shows Stewart and McCain as the only two five-stars in the Duke basketball class. As for the other two incoming Blue Devils, Notre Dame (Calif.) point guard Caleb Foster and Worcester (Mass.) combo forward TJ Power are four-star talents, per On3, ranking No. 19 and No. 23, respectively.

Stewart and McCain are the only Duke signees who played in the McDonald's All-American Game in late March. The night before the game in Houston, Stewart won the dunk contest — ironically, he jumped over Mgbako for one dunk — while McCain snagged the 3-point shootout crown.

Mgbako, still on tap to play his college ball in Durham when the showcase took place, was also a McDonald's All-American.

RELATED: List of Duke's All-Time McDonald's All-Americans

Duke's four heralded newcomers will join a formidable cast of returning players, highlighted by a trio of returning sophomores and full-time starters in Tyrese Proctor, Mark Mitchell, and ACC Rookie of the Year Kyle Filipowski.

RELATED: Mark Mitchell Addresses the Status of His Knee Injury

Most experts see the Blue Devils starting the second season with Jon Scheyer at the helm at No. 1 in the country.

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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