Duke basketball: Mackenzie Mgbako recruitment remains quiet

The recruitment of former Duke basketball signee Mackenzie Mgbako is quiet. 

Reports surfaced quickly after Duke basketball signee Mackenzie Mgabko reopened his recruitment that the 5-star forward had over 50 schools reach out to him.

Since that initial contact, his recruitment has been very tight lipped.

Cerebro Sports recruiting insider Andrew Slater reported that newly named St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino held an in-home visit with the New Jersey native and Richie Schnyderite and Mike Broadbent of The Knight Report podcast on the Rivals network said that Rutgers is also after Mackenzie Mgbako.

Louisville and the NBA G-League have also been rumored to be involved with Mgbako.

The 6-foot-8 McDonald’s All-American requested his release from his National Letter of Intent shortly after Kyle Filipowski announced he would be returning to the program for his sophomore season.

ALSO READ: Duke top commit Mackenzie Mgbako reopens recruitment

Guard Tyrese Proctor and forward Mark Mitchell also announced earlier in the month that they would be returning to Duke.

Duke still holds the second best recruiting class in the country, according to 247Sports, despite the departure of Mgbako as head coach Jon Scheyer brings in 5-star prospects Sean Stewart, Jared McCain, Caleb Foster, and TJ Power.

Duke basketball signee could take time with process

Mackenzie Mgbako is listed as the No. 7 player in the Class of 2023, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, as well as the No. 2 power forward in the class and No. 3 player in the state of New Jersey.

North Carolina was rumored to be interested in Mgbako due to his connection with its 4-star signee Simeon Wilcher.

ALSO READ: Mark Mitchell explains decision to return to Duke

Mgbako and Wilcher played last season together at Roselle Catholic (NJ) but many have reported it is unlikely if the former Duke pledge lands in Chapel Hill.

“While I have great appreciation and respect for the Duke coaching staff and fans for their interest in me, I feel that there will be other places for me to continue my basketball journey, so I will be re-opening the recruiting process to all schools,” Mgbako said in his decommitment post.

It’s unclear when Mackenzie Mgbako will make a decision on his future but it seems very clear that there will not be many leaks during this recruitment and he is going to take his time in the process.