Woodson Says Mgbako Has Chance to Make Immediate Impact at Indiana

After beating Kansas for the commitment of five-star recruit Mackenzie Mgbako, Mike Woodson shared his thoughts on Mgbako's potential impact at Indiana next year. "He’s a tremendous offensive player who gives us athleticism, length and the ability to be an inside/out threat."

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana coach Mike Woodson had one of the biggest recruiting wins of his career on May 12 when five-star recruit Mackenzie Mgbako picked Indiana over Kansas.

The 6-foot-8 Mgbako fills glaring needs for Indiana as a three-level scoring wing on a roster that lost four starters from last year's No. 4 seed team. It also revealed where Woodson has positioned Indiana on a national scale after just two seasons– a program that landed a top-10 prospect over a perennial powerhouse while two players head to the NBA.

The Hoosiers lost veterans Trayce Jackson-Davis, Race Thompson, Miller Kopp and Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jalen Hood-Schifino, giving Mgbako and others a chance to breathe life into the new-look roster.

"Mackenzie is a dynamic player and an outstanding young man from a great family," Woodson said in a release. "He has the chance to have an immediate impact on our program. He’s a tremendous offensive player who gives us athleticism, length and the ability to be an inside/out threat. He can beat people off the dribble, rebound, run the floor and guard multiple positions."

Preparation 📝 pic.twitter.com/DxWStla71k

— Mackenzie Mgbako (@MackenzieMgbako) May 22, 2023

Mgbako is a McDonald's All-American and the No. 9 player in the class of 2023, per the ESPN Top 100. Out of Roselle Catholic in New Jersey, Mgbako was originally committed to Duke, but he requested a release from his National Letter of Intent on April 11, re-opening his recruitment.

Not only is Mgbako Indiana's highest-ranked high school recruit since Romeo Langford in 2018, that also makes him the second-highest ranked recruit in Indiana basketball history, per the 247Sports rankings.

Indiana's 2023 recruiting class – Mgbako, plus four-star guards Gabe Cupps and Jakai Newton – will arrive on campus in June, and Mgbako's commitment improved their ranking to No. 15 in the nation and No. 3 in the Big Ten, according to On3.

Mgbako has already been listed in 2024 NBA mock drafts, but Woodson envisions a year in college boosting the wing's game.

"Like most freshmen, he will benefit greatly from time in the weight room," Woodson said. "He is a winner who has played against high-level competition and was a state champion in high school. We can’t wait to welcome him and his family to Bloomington.”

Indiana commit Mackenzie Mgbako pictured at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall during visit / Indiana Athletics

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• TOM BREW COLUMN: Some people think 6-foot-8 forward Mackenzie Mgbako is the best offensive player in the Class of 2023, and on Friday he committed to Mike Woodson and Indiana, leaving Duke and picking the Hoosiers over Kansas. That just hasn't been happening at Indiana — but it is now and Indiana is suddenly back in the national conversation. CLICK HERE
• MGBAKO CHOOSES INDIANA OVER KANSAS: Indiana picked up a massive commitment on Friday night from class of 2023 five-star recruit Mackenzie Mgbako. The 6-foot-8 McDonald's All-American from Roselle Catholic in New Jersey is the No. 9 player in the ESPN Top 100. CLICK HERE