2023 SF/PF Mackenzie Mgbako to Texas A&M via Portal

[JF87]

11 minutes ago, DChoosier said:

He was a freshman.
I don’t care if he was a 9 star he was still a freshman and he steadily improved throughout the year. I disagree he, as a freshman, was “atrocious” most of the year. He was the co-Big Ten freshman of the year. 

Agree he plays “stiff” and kudos again for your avatar.

I agree that we should be happy with MgBako's freshman season.  He continued to improve all year and had a solid season.  I was initially disappointed because when I heard that we're getting a 5-star that originally committed to Duke, I'm thinking he's going to be a super athlete that plays above the rim. That wasn't MgBako's game.  It took a while to just sit back and enjoy the skills that he does have.    

[Jeff Flabjohns]

14 hours ago, IU - Kaulie said:

I hope you’re right.  I’m not as high on him as everyone else.  
 

I expect he will score a ton of points but he still has to get a lot better on the other end for us to do anything.  To his credit, he did get better at the end of the season but he was atrocious for most of the year.  He has to at least get to the point where we are not taking him out or even thinking about taking him out late in games.  I still think he plays so stiff I could take him.

Awful take

[Adillac]

Mgbako has little chance at being drafted unless he can showcase a 40%+ 3pt shot with high volume. He has good size but unless he’s hitting 3s at a high rate, he just doesn’t have the athleticism to do much else at the next level. If he were as athletic as Gallo, he’d be already gone. 

[HoosierTrav]

17 hours ago, IU - Kaulie said:

I hope you’re right.  I’m not as high on him as everyone else.  
 

I expect he will score a ton of points but he still has to get a lot better on the other end for us to do anything.  To his credit, he did get better at the end of the season but he was atrocious for most of the year.  He has to at least get to the point where we are not taking him out or even thinking about taking him out late in games.  I still think he plays so stiff I could take him.

He got exponentially better towards the end of the season, on the defensive end. 

[8bucks]

2 hours ago, Adillac said:

Mgbako has little chance at being drafted unless he can showcase a 40%+ 3pt shot with high volume. He has good size but unless he’s hitting 3s at a high rate, he just doesn’t have the athleticism to do much else at the next level. If he were as athletic as Gallo, he’d be already gone. 

I think getting NBA feedback is less about getting drafted now but having NBA people advise on what he needs to improve his stock. 

[bigrod]

3 hours ago, HoosierTrav said:

He got exponentially better towards the end of the season, on the defensive end. 

True, but he started at a very, very low level.

[HoosierHoopster]

The guy was co-freshman of the year and there’s still discussion trying to minimize his growth based on early play? Good grief. 
Flip side of that coin - which is getting old - maybe if Woodson had encouraged his shooting and actually run sets for a perimeter game he would have shined earlier? Ya think? I thought he’d come back but honestly we’re lucky, in an actual modern offense emphasizing outside scoring, with plays actually run for it - what a shocker, Woodson - he’d score much more efficiently.

This isn’t directed at anyone in particular above, I just find it surprising that there’s continuing focus on early struggles defensively when the guy earned co-frosh of the year and clearly was a key player for us in doing so

[Stuhoo]

“Returning B1G co-freshman of the Year” sounds good.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Little brother playing well

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Little brother getting some serious recognition.  

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Little brother transferring high schools per Samad Hines.

2026 Ethan Mgbako (@ethanmgbako) will be attending powerhouse Oak Hill Academy (VA) for the 2024-2025 high school season — the 6-foot-6 guard out of New Jersey has had a stellar AAU season — an elite pick up for Yerrick Stoneman and his staff with this one

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

 

https://www.insidethehall.com/2024/09/03/indianas-mackenzie-mgbako-featured-on-regional-cover-for-lindys-sports-college-basketball-preview/

[HoosierHoopster]

5 hours ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

 

https://www.insidethehall.com/2024/09/03/indianas-mackenzie-mgbako-featured-on-regional-cover-for-lindys-sports-college-basketball-preview/

I particularly like the sizing of the pics on the cover, looks like he's about to run over Braden Smith, maybe that's also figuratively... lol

[LamarCheeks]

It's No. 20 for No. 21. 

 

[HoosierHoopster]

^^^ And looking back at our emails last spring, man were we right on Bako, his scoring ability and growth, along with his overall game, is on full display so far -- he's a big time player for this team

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

At the G-League Elite Camp

[ebridges24]

25 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

At the G-League Elite Camp

Where was this sh!t this past season 

[HoosierHoopster]

41 minutes ago, ebridges24 said:

Where was this sh!t this past season 

Hidden and ruined by Woodson’s complete lack of perimeter sets and schemes.
Said it earlier whether or not people like him he’s a talented player, he’ll do well elsewhere, he just had a sh$t coach

[CSP]

Glorified AAU with no scouting involved. This kid plays zerooooo meaningful NBA and I'd be borderline shocked to ever see him on a roster.