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

[jbeaman9]

Just now, Scotty R said:

I think he just read my post on HSN stating I was getting a UL vibe in this recruitment. With Rabby saying UL is the favorite should make us feel better about our chances in this recruitment.

$$$$$

[HoosierHoopster]

^^ His family has been and is keeping it close to the vest. Rabby has no more knowledge of what the kid's decision will be be. Click bait.

[jbeaman9]

8 minutes ago, HoosierHoopster said:

^^ His family has been and is keeping it close to the vest. Rabby has no more knowledge of what the kid's decision will be be. Click bait.

Curious, how is it clickbait when he did not post a link to his website saying this? It's not like he posted on twitter with a eye-catching headline requiring you to click a link to his page. Not saying he is always right or wrong or whatever, just don't consider this particular instance to be clickbait as you called it.

 "content whose main purpose is to attract attention and encourage visitors to click on a link to a particular web page"

[jbeaman9]

19 minutes ago, Ngw7183 said:

This just proves not a single person knows anything including him. There is nothing to say UL is favorite other than gut feeling.

the Kansas counterpart to Rabby still says he never goes on that visit and Kansas is 100% the pick. 
 

it is all guessing and it is hilarious 

Weird, when someone has a differing opinion than your own you like to jump down throats. Maybe he knows, maybe he doesn't, I was just passing along what he said. Glad you got a good laugh from it. 

[Stuhoo]

6 minutes ago, jbeaman9 said:

Curious, how is it clickbait when he did not post a link to his website saying this? It's not like he posted on twitter with a eye-catching headline requiring you to click a link to his page. Not saying he is always right or wrong or whatever, just don't consider this particular instance to be clickbait as you called it.

 "content whose main purpose is to attract attention and encourage visitors to click on a link to a particular web page"

Not sure 'clickbait' is entirely the right description.

More like "this is a high-profile recruit and Rabby needs to weigh in in some manner." He is the best-connected IU reporter, but he doesn't always know. Even then people expect him to opine in some way.

[jbeaman9]

1 minute ago, Stuhoo said:

Not sure 'clickbait' is entirely the right description.

More like "this is a high-profile recruit and Rabby needs to weigh in in some manner." He is the best-connected IU reporter, but he doesn't always know. Even then people expect him to opine in some way.

I can agree with that 100%. Not saying his opinion is gospel by any stretch but wanted to share it out. I think the truth is probably somewhere in between what everyone keeps sharing. Maybe he does eventually pick UL but Rabby and other "insiders" from other sites have changed their opinions many times already. 

[Hoosier987]

5 minutes ago, jbeaman9 said:

I can agree with that 100%. Not saying his opinion is gospel by any stretch but wanted to share it out. I think the truth is probably somewhere in between what everyone keeps sharing. Maybe he does eventually pick UL but Rabby and other "insiders" from other sites have changed their opinions many times already. 

I think there have been 1 or 2 reputable people out there that have said “don’t believe the rumors” regarding this recruitment. 

[Artie86]

Here is what I am trying to wrap my head around....I get a player having a strong connection with an assistant. We don't know how deep that connection or friendship is. However, that assistant coach is not the head coach of that team. Yes he's a large part the staff, but if this connection is truly what is driving him to give U of L a look, he's going to have to love, like, enjoy being coached by Payne and with this guy on staff. The real question is...Will NIL$, being coached by Payne, etc. be enough to sell him? Just a thought......

[jbeaman9]

1 minute ago, Artie86 said:

Here is what I am trying to wrap my head around....I get a player having a strong connection with an assistant. We don't know how deep that connection or friendship is. However, that assistant coach is not the head coach of that team. Yes he's a large part the staff, but if this connection is truly what is driving him to give U of L a look, he's going to have to love, like, enjoy being coached by Payne and with this guy on staff. The real question is...Will NIL$, being coached by Payne, etc. be enough to sell him? Just a thought......

Not just connections between he and Smith (the assistant). Connections with the agency he signed with and people behind the scenes connected to UL. Could be a little push that direction due to those connections. We won't know for sure until things are announced officially. 

[Chris007]

38 minutes ago, jbeaman9 said:

Curious, how is it clickbait when he did not post a link to his website saying this? It's not like he posted on twitter with a eye-catching headline requiring you to click a link to his page. Not saying he is always right or wrong or whatever, just don't consider this particular instance to be clickbait as you called it.

 "content whose main purpose is to attract attention and encourage visitors to click on a link to a particular web page"

It's not clickbait. He's also not saying the family is saying Louisville is the leader. But from what I got from that whole thread is his agency and Payne must be very close. The family is not making this decision. It seems to me that his agency is telling this young man where to go. Which sucks because we have a very good relationship with CAA. Woodson is with them, JHS is with them, Ware is with them but for some reason they want this kid at Louisville. 

[Chris007]

19 minutes ago, Artie86 said:

Here is what I am trying to wrap my head around....I get a player having a strong connection with an assistant. We don't know how deep that connection or friendship is. However, that assistant coach is not the head coach of that team. Yes he's a large part the staff, but if this connection is truly what is driving him to give U of L a look, he's going to have to love, like, enjoy being coached by Payne and with this guy on staff. The real question is...Will NIL$, being coached by Payne, etc. be enough to sell him? Just a thought......

We offered more NIL. CAA think they will have a better opportunity of representing this kid in the NBA if he goes to play for Payne than any of the other schools. So he is being pushed towards U of L

[Bowhunter]

1 minute ago, Chris007 said:

We offered more NIL. CAA think they will have a better opportunity of representing this kid in the NBA if he goes to play for Payne than any of the other schools. So he is being pushed towards U of L

Damn

[jbeaman9]

1 minute ago, Ngw7183 said:

Then why visit anyone if this was a done deal with CAA? Nothing that was said or done changes anything and he has to do what they say.  Something doesn’t add up. 

Maybe the family/Mgbako himself wanted to check out other options. They left IU loving it. Went home and chatted with other players involved. They suggested he still go to Louisville for whatever reason. 

[Chris007]

1 minute ago, Ngw7183 said:

Then why visit anyone if this was a done deal with CAA? Nothing that was said or done changes anything and he has to do what they say.  Something doesn’t add up. 

I think that is what the family is figuring out. They have visited 3 schools and he maybe wanted to commit to two of them but now he's a U of L lean with that visit coming up. This has been different than any other recruit I can remember in a long time. 

[Artie86]

5 minutes ago, Chris007 said:

We offered more NIL. CAA think they will have a better opportunity of representing this kid in the NBA if he goes to play for Payne than any of the other schools. So he is being pushed towards U of L

What makes Payne any better at getting a player to the NBA than Woodson?

[Chris007]

Just now, Artie86 said:

What makes Payne any better at getting a player to the NBA than Woodson?

I'm not sure about that, but I do know that Payne has a better relationship with agents than Woodson does. 

[Artie86]

1 minute ago, Chris007 said:

I think that is what the family is figuring out. They have visited 3 schools and he maybe wanted to commit to two of them but now he's a U of L lean with that visit coming up. This has been different than any other recruit I can remember in a long time. 

....you're hearing now he's a U of L lean? Good grief!!!

[Hoosierfan1901]

6 minutes ago, Chris007 said:

I think that is what the family is figuring out. They have visited 3 schools and he maybe wanted to commit to two of them but now he's a U of L lean with that visit coming up. This has been different than any other recruit I can remember in a long time. 

Thanks for the insight Chris, seems like this one will likely be wrapped up next week, if he makes a decision. Maybe he will be displeased with the visit, if not…we shall see. Can’t believe everything going on behind this one, lots of false info coming from Louisville too apparently 

[Chris007]

1 minute ago, Artie86 said:

....you're hearing now he's a U of L lean? Good grief!!!

Yes, and it sounds like both IU and Kansas still think they have a shot. I'll be honest I don't fully understand this whole recruitment. I got a text Saturday night that seemed like this visit couldn't have gone any better. The family and player loved Woody, we rolled out the red carpet and were told they were canceling the next visit. Then went home and talked it over with everyone, now taking the visit and their the favorite. 

[HoosierHoopster]

50 minutes ago, jbeaman9 said:

Weird, when someone has a differing opinion than your own you like to jump down throats. Maybe he knows, maybe he doesn't, I was just passing along what he said. Glad you got a good laugh from it. 

I'm not sure why you're taking offense. Not calling you out in any way, and didn't post any laugh emoji or otherwise say anything about your post. just saying Rabby doesn't have any more info on this recruit's choices than anyone else, and he doesn't. That's not an opinion, it's the situation.