Elite junior Mackenzie Mgbako verbally commits to Duke and gives Blue Devils five five-star commits in the 2023 class

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9:21 p.m. ET

  • Jeff Borzello

    CloseElite junior Mackenzie Mgbako verbally commits to Duke and gives.png&h=80&w=80&scale=cropESPN Author

    • Basketball Recruiting Insider.
    • With ESPN since 2014.
    • Graduated from the University of Delaware.

  • Paul Biancardi

    Close1649472272 224 Elite junior Mackenzie Mgbako verbally commits to Duke and gives.png&h=80&w=80&scale=cropBasketball Recruitment

    • National Recruitment Director for ESPN.com
    • 18 years coaching experience at Division I level
    • Former Horizon League Coach of the Year at Wright State

Elite junior Mackenzie Mgbako announced his commitment to Duke on Friday, giving the Blue Devils five five-star promises in the 2023 class, including two in just over 24 hours.

Five-star junior point guard Tyrese Proctor, an Australian native, signed on to Duke Thursday night.

Mgbako selected Duke over the final four, which also included Kentucky, Ohio State and Memphis.

  • Elite junior Mackenzie Mgbako verbally commits to Duke and gives.jpg&w=130&h=130&scale=crop&location=center

“I think that suits him best. The style of play suits him very well,” said Mergin Sina, Mgbako’s coach at Gill St. Bernard’s School in New Jersey. “They plan to play a spread-style offense. Mackenzie brings a lot of versatility to both sides. When Duke recruited him, all the staff came. They were very serious at the beginning of the process.”

Mgbako, a 6-foot-8 small forward from New Jersey, is the No. 3 in the 2023 class — and the No. 1 small forward in the country. Mgbako, who played an age division last summer, averaged 16.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in 12 games with the NJ Scholars grassroots program on the Nike EYBL circuit.

Mgbako made a name for himself as a spot-up shooter, finisher, and someone to impress in the switching game. His knight is characterized by strong leg raise, shot preparation and shooting mechanics.

He will be effective as a marksman in several places. Mgbako is a dangerous marksman because, as a small forward, he combines excellent position size with a clean release and confident mechanics.

It can be used on dribbling handoffs, ball screens, or uncovering dribbling penetration and running off screens. His jumper sets up his drive game.

The next step for him is to become more fluid with the ball to shake up defenders in halffield after catching.

“His ball handling and rebounds have taken the next step,” said Sina. “He’s a gym rat who’s always in the gym.”

Mgbako is the highest-ranking junior signed at this point in the cycle. Joining Mgbako and Proctor are Sean Stewart (No. 13), Caleb Foster (No. 19) and Jared McCain (No. 22).

Of the nine five-star players signed in 2023, five are going to Durham. New Duke coach Jon Scheyer landed in the #1 recruit bracket in 2022 — and now has a huge lead in the race for #1 in 2023.

Of the 11 players signed to the Blue Devils since Scheyer’s appointment as coach, eight have been classified as five-star prospects, with 10 of the 11 being in the ESPN 100.