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

[Home Jersey]

NIL, playing time/role in offense, NBA preparedness are the determining factors here, it seems. Facilities/winning/where he can see himself fitting best culturally for a year on and off campus probably play a lesser role as well.

I'm hoping NIL is a wash between the Adidas schools and St. Johns is almost tapped out already.

Because from a playing time/role in the offense and NBA readiness perspective, I think IU stacks up just as well as Kansas and Louisville if not slightly better. Hopefully Kansas fills up scholly wise and it becomes a much clearer picture. 

Purely speculation but can't envision a top 10 recruit going to St. Johns knowing what those facilities and program is like right now, just for Pitino's first year, especially when that recruit was previously committed to Duke. Something tells me he likes the attention and fanfare as most kids do. You'll get a lot more of that at IU than you would at St. Johns. Unless Pitino has them playing almost every home game in MSG, St. Johns is a really tough sell, even with him as the coach. 

[RaceToTheTop]

1 minute ago, TeeterInNJ said:

NIL, playing time/role in offense, NBA preparedness are the determining factors here, it seems. Facilities/winning/where he can see himself fitting best culturally for a year on and off campus probably play a lesser role as well.

I'm hoping NIL is a wash between the Adidas schools and St. Johns is almost tapped out already.

Because from a playing time/role in the offense and NBA readiness perspective, I think IU stacks up just as well as Kansas and Louisville if not slightly better. Hopefully Kansas fills up scholly wise and it becomes a much clearer picture. 

Purely speculation but can't envision a top 10 recruit going to St. Johns knowing what those facilities and program is like right now, just for Pitino's first year, especially when that recruit was previously committed to Duke. Something tells me he likes the attention and fanfare as most kids do. You'll get a lot more of that at IU than you would at St. Johns. Unless Pitino has them playing almost every home game in MSG, St. Johns is a really tough sell, even with him as the coach. 

St. John's is set to play 9 games at MSG next season, I believe.  One non-conference and eight conference games.  Have to imagine unless his roster vastly improves the house won't be very full.

[Home Jersey]

2 minutes ago, RaceToTheTop said:

St. John's is set to play 9 games at MSG next season, I believe.  One non-conference and eight conference games.  Have to imagine unless his roster vastly improves the house won't be very full.

As a Jersey kid, I am sure NYC holds some appeal to Mgbako. I hope he realizes that NYers won't recognize him as if he is a star just because he plays at St. Johns. Literally nobody cares about them. If he were to be playing for the Knicks or Nets, sure, he'd get recognized by a few dedicated fans. 

So much of the appeal in Duke is being on national TV, a huge brand, rabid fan base. IU and Kansas are certainly closest in that regard. 

[Golfman25]

You guys can talk yourselves into anything.   :)

[GloryDays]

15 hours ago, RaceToTheTop said:

Dingle and Johnson in the backcourt.......hehe

 

[JerryYeagley23]

I’ve got eyes and ears on this one. 

[dwtaylor1055]

8 minutes ago, JerryYeagley23 said:

I’ve got eyes and ears on this one. 

What can you share 

[Hoosier987]

32 minutes ago, JerryYeagley23 said:

I’ve got eyes and ears on this one. 

Again…worth repeating. Mgbako would be a MASSIVE addition. 6’8 bucket getter that would slide right in. 

[Hoosierfan1901]

The only thing thing I got from this so far, nothing much on the KU/UL boards, there is pretty much 0 St John boards and a random, highly unconfirmed rumor on the Miami board saying he is going to pop for St John’s tomorrow. Other than that, pretty much 0 insight I found

[Alford Bailey]

Pitino is certainly capable of pulling this kid. Gonna be an interesting week.

[Banksyrules]

I’m wondering if Coach Woodson’s tenure with the Knicks had an impact in this recruitment. 

[Me So Hornsby]

Is it next week yet?


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[JerryYeagley23]

6 hours ago, dwtaylor1055 said:

What can you share 

That I’ve got eyes and ears on this one. 

[mike vannice]

OK, so let us know what your eyes see and your ears hear when you can. No hurry whenever you are comfortable.

[Hoosierfan1901]

Looks like his St John’s visit has concluded 

 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

They gonna love Woody and get the Carmelo treatment. Let’s lock this one up.


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[tomallenfan1]

They gonna love Woody and get the Carmelo treatment. Let’s lock this one up.


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Someone get Carmelo on FaceTime for this visit. “Son, that could be you one day. Carmelo is the **** just like Mike Woodson. You can be too.”

[Stuhoo]

2 minutes ago, Ngw7183 said:

Other than the Pitino name (which Woodson name would mean more to a recruit ) - they have nothing to offer.  Rick has not been that successful pulling top talent yet either. 
 

I don’t think you can view this one like most recruiting. He as been pointed to where he needs to look. IU fits the need the most. 

They have “playing close to family and friends and allowing them see you on the court all the time” to offer also

[Josh]

4 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

They have “playing close to family and friends and allowing them see you on the court all the time” to offer also

Is Pitino still offering hookers and blow?  That can be a hell of a thing too.

[cthomas]

How old is Pitino anyway. Seems like he should have faded into the sunset by now. I always thought he was a good coach with a broken moral compass.