NBA Draft

2025 NBA Draft: MacKenzie Mgbako is a Scoring Threat at Combo Forward

The Indiana sophomore looks primed for a huge season with the Hoosiers. 

Keenan Womack

Mar 14, 2024; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Mackenzie Mgbako (21) dribbles as Penn State Nittany Lions forward Zach Hicks (24) defends during the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2024; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Mackenzie Mgbako (21) dribbles as Penn State Nittany Lions forward Zach Hicks (24) defends during the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports / Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
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Standing at 6-foot-8 and weighing a solid 210 pounds, MacKenzie Mgbako has the perfect skillset for a modern NBA combo forward. 

Though he was inefficient in his freshman season, shooting below 40% from the field, much of this was due to shot selection, as well as bad spacing on behalf of the Hoosier offense. 

Despite these numbers, Mgbako has a great stroke from three and is able to truly affect games with his knockdown shooting and face-up game. Putting up 12.2 points per game last season, he is the second-leading scorer returning to the Hoosiers this season behind Malik Reneau, and should step into an even bigger role as a second-year player for Indiana. 

It's been established that in order to play any kind of power forward role in the NBA, a prospect must have perimeter skills, and with his ability to come off of screens and hit shots, Mgbako has these talents in spades. He's also a good rebounder in the paint, meaning his switching between the three-spot and four-spot could be a real opportunity for him to get some extra minutes both at the collegiate level as well as the next level. 

Though he would be undersized for a power forward, his ability outside of the paint makes him an option regardless. Though teammate Malik Reneau is more of a true four at 6-foot-9, 233 pounds, Mgbako will still play minutes near the paint and at the elbows per Woodson's system. 

If the efficiency can improve, Mgbako could end up being a top-20 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft as an effective offensive cog in nearly any NBA offense due to his confluence of perimeter and interior skills. Given the 82.1% from the free-throw line and rebounding rate of 12.2%, the shooting looks promising and the ability to attack the glass make him a truly intriguing prospect. 

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Keenan Womack

KEENAN WOMACK

Keenan Womack is a sportswriter native to Dallas, Texas, who has spent the last 12 years in Austin, the home of his alma mater, the University of Texas. Keenan has covered sports for SB Nation, Bleacher Report, Rivals/Orangebloods, a host of his own sites and now, Fan Nation. Focusing on basketball, Keenan was on the beat for the Longhorns hoops team for the last two-and-a-half years before moving on to pursue other opportunities. He is married and lives with his wife close to the Moody Center, so they can continue to catch games together.

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