5-star Mackenzie Mgbako talks four college visits

Mackenzie Mgbako has solidified himself as one of the top players in the 2023 class. The 6-foot-8 small forward out of Gladstone (N.J.) Gill St. Bernard does a little bit of everything. He can knock down the three-ball, bring the ball up the floor if needed, post-up and score on the block, defend, and much more.

The junior wing has visited a few programs thus far – Memphis, Kentucky, Duke, Ohio State. He would like to take a few other visits in the future but doesn’t plan on deciding until after this summer.

Mgbako is the No. 4 prospect in the 2023 class, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. 

The versatile forward discussed each of his college trips thus far.

Memphis

“It was nice, meeting with Penny (Hardaway), Emoni (Bates), and Jalen (Duren), it was nice,” Duren said. “We went out for dinner, watched a practice, talked to Coach Penny, Rasheed Wallace, it was nice.”

“(Penny) is very down to earth. He’s young. He’s on the court with you when you’re practicing and he will tell you the real deal because he’s been in the game for a while, so it’s nice to have a coach that knows the game, the ins, and outs.”

Kentucky

“Coach Cal is an amazing coach,” Mgbako said. “He likes to push it in transition. They have a young team with a few vets so that’s really nice. Just watching how they play basketball, offensively and defensively, is great.”

“Coach (Orlando) Antigua is the one recruiting me, so he’s been recruiting me really hard and we’ve built a great repertoire with each other and a good relationship.”

Duke

“(Jon Scheyer) is a likable coach. Like when you meet him and get recruited by him, you see it first hand. He is a coach you want to be recruited by. He has that kind of feeling to him that makes you want to go to his team.”

Duke commit Caleb Foster has been vocal about recruiting Mackenzie to join him in Durham.

“I met Caleb over at the Duke visit,” Mgbako said. “Coach Scheyer told me a little bit about who he’d be recruiting and said that would be the starting point guard.”

Ohio State

“It was amazing. I went to the football game against Akron. It was a great atmosphere, the fans were crazy. I met up with Meechie (Johnson) and Zed Key so that was nice as well. Just a great atmosphere, love the fans, love everything that has to do with it. I’ve built a great relationship with Coach (Tony) Skin.”