Former Indiana basketball forward Mackenzie Mgbako has been an early standout in NBA Draft workouts. Following impressive performances across two scrimmages at last weekend’s G-League Elite Camp, Mgbako was one of only five players to be called up to the NBA Combine, which began earlier this week.
Mgbako will soon have to make a big career decision, though: stay in the NBA Draft or return to college for his junior season. All draft-eligible prospects have until May 28th to pull out of the draft process and maintain their college eligibility.
If Mgbako chooses to play a third college season, he will do so at Texas A&M, where he committed earlier this spring after entering the transfer portal. Mgbako’s departure from Indiana was part of a mass roster overhaul which saw all IU players from last season’s roster transfer out of the program. New head coach Darian DeVries has since added 10 transfer additions.
While Hoosier fans won’t get to see Mgbako finish his college career in the cream and crimson, there’s still a possibility his final college stop is Bloomington, should he remain in the NBA Draft. And after the last week of pre-draft workouts for Mgbako, it’s not out of the question that he chooses to begin his professional career this year.
“We talked to a few people (at the NBA Combine) and they were saying this might be the best basketball that Mackenzie Mgbako has played in three years that he played this week,” 247Sports’ Isaac Trotter said. “So that’s a really encouraging sign.”
However, Mgbako’s emergence in front of NBA teams this week might only last a few more days. 247Sports’ Adam Finkelstein said he thinks Mgbako should return to college and use the NBA Combine as a launching pad for a successful third season.
“I don’t think that Mackenzie should stay in this draft,” Finkelstein said. “But what I’m hoping this is, is an opportunity for him to kind of turn the page and discover his best basketball, and maybe play his way back into NBA Draft consideration because that was the expectation coming out of high school.”
Trotter agreed: “I personally think he should head to Texas A&M. I’m talking myself into that fit. I think he’s gonna play more of an up-tempo scheme. I think he’s gonna play the position he’s best at as a stretch four. They’re gonna have a ton of shooting with Rylan Griffen potentially being there at the three. I like the fit with him at Texas A&M. I think (Aggies head coach) Bucky McMillan is going to do a really job there.”
Mgbako’s career at Indiana didn’t pan out how many hoped for the former McDonald’s All-American. Despite earning co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors in the 2023-24 season, Mgbako’s production and efficiency didn’t improve much during his sophomore season. The Hoosiers missed the NCAA Tournament in both of Mgbako’s seasons.
If the former five-star recruit and No. 67-ranked transfer does return to school and can realize his potential at Texas A&M, it could land him in the NBA Draft in future years. For now, though, it’s wait-and-see with Mgbako as he wraps up his pre-draft process.
“If (Mgbako) can just parlay some of the confidence that he has put together on tape this week into his junior season at Texas A&M,” Trotter said, “I think he could be a big, big bounce-back candidate.”
