Here's why top recruit Mackenzie Mgbako picked Indiana over Kansas, St. John's
A Nigerian flag. Mike Woodson talking about Tiger Woods. Cards from members of the IU basketball coaching staff. Insight from Carmelo Anthony.
All of this — and more — happened between the time Mackenzie Mgbako reopened his recruitment in April and when he committed to IU basketball in May.
Mgbako’s decision to attend IU holds layers of significance. He is an elite prospect and 2023 McDonald’s All American. To land a player of his caliber validates IU’s ability to get some of the top talent in the country. But also, because of what Indiana lost this offseason — including regular starters Trayce Jackson-Davis, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Race Thompson and Miller Kopp — the Hoosiers needed to replace a lot of production.
Mgbako originally signed with Duke but reopened his recruitment late in the 2023 class’ cycle. That led to a somewhat truncated recruiting process. Mgbako visited St. John’s, Kansas and Indiana. The IU visit, truly a team effort from inside and outside the program, helped make Mgbako a Hoosier.
“It was really a wonderful experience,” Mgbako's mother, Daphney, told IndyStar.
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There were details during the visit, some perhaps small, that were noticed. At the hotel, there were cards by individual IU staff members for each Daphney and her husband. "(The notes were like) 'thank you for coming, we appreciate you,'" Daphney said. "And I thought that was very thoughtful." Mgbako is of Nigerian descent, so IU provided a Nigerian flag, which he used during the photo shoot.
There were meetings for NIL and academics. They spoke with IU athletic director Scott Dolson, who shared his personal connection with IU. “(Dolson) took the time out of his busy day to talk to us, tell us his story,” Daphney said. There was a presentation by Clif Marshall, the Director of Athletic Performance for men’s basketball, who not only showcased the development of those he worked with, which included athletes' experiences, but also got across his ability to build meaningful personal connections, which could include going fishing.
Mgbako said he had an “instant connection” with Woodson, a bond which was evident in a clip of the two dapping each other up. It was a relatively casual atmosphere, so much so that Daphney met Woodson’s wife. The IU coach spoke about his time coaching in the NBA, but the discourse wasn’t only about basketball. Woodson, known to be a golfer, talked about how he met Tiger Woods.
“Wow, he’s such an easygoing person to speak with,” Daphney said of Woodson. “… We weren’t trying to have a conversation, we were just talking. And one story led to another story and things like that.”
The coaching staff evaluated Mgbako’s game with extreme precision. “Everything was spot on as if they had been around him for years,” Daphney said. Mgbako, listed at 6-8 and 210 pounds, has the combination of size, talent and skills at the wing that Indiana has lacked. There was analysis of Eric Gordon, plus Carmelo Anthony when he played for the New York Knicks. Woodson also laid out his vision for Mgbako’s role at IU.
“There’s like positionless (basketball), but if I were to play a position, probably the like three, four, maybe even the two,” Mgbako said. “Pushing in transition. Taking open shots. Playing fast. Three-way scorer. Rebounding, being a high-level rebounder. Play great defense. Making me a better defensive player.”
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Anthony, who was coached by Woodson for some time in New York, left fingerprints on Mgbako’s recruitment not only in IU’s analysis of his game but also from his personal experiences. During the decision-making process, Mgbako got insight from Anthony about Woodson.
“(Anthony) said (Woodson) pushes his players to be the best they can be every day,” Mgbako said. “And he said he’s a player’s coach. So if you trust him, he’ll get you to where you need to be.”
Mgbako was at IU during graduation weekend, meaning there was a lot of energy in Bloomington. On top of that, there was public knowledge that Mgbako was visiting and the passion of the IU fan base was on display. He signed autographs and posed for photos.
“The fans are amazing," Daphney said. "We went to (BuffaLouie’s) and I was shocked how it was so many people there asking for his autograph. I thought the staff had that planned. Like no, they don’t know these people."
After the visit to IU, Mgbako was supposed to take a visit to Louisville, but that was canceled as he narrowed his list to Kansas and IU. The Friday following his visit to IU, Mgbako committed.
Mgbako’s decision was the emphatic touch on what developed into a successful offseason. IU’s roster will look vastly different. The Hoosiers are bringing in 7-foot Oregon transfer Kel’el Ware, Miami (Fla.) transfer Anthony Walker, Ball State transfer Payton Sparks, along with incoming freshman Gabe Cupps and Jakai Newton. Veteran guard Xavier Johnson, who spoke with Mgbako during the visit, will likely be key in bridging what IU has done the past two seasons and potential future success.
How Woodson’s coaching tenure at IU will be defined is still to be determined. But the impression the visit left on Mgbako and his family is an encouraging sign about how Woodson and the staff go about running the program.
“The staff was very welcoming and I felt very family-oriented," Mgbako said. "Like it was a second home.”
Follow IndyStar sports reporter Tyler Tachman on Twitter at @Tyler_T15.