Five-star high school recruit Mackenzie Mgbako has asked to be released from his National Letter of Intent by Duke, he announced on Instagram.
“While I have great appreciation and respect for the Duke coaching staff and fans for their interest in me, I feel that there will be other places for me to continue my basketball journey, so I will be re-opening the recruiting process to all schools,” Mgbako said. “Sending a big thanks to all my supporters, friends, and family for continuing to show love.”
The small forward from New Jersey is a top-10 recruit in the upcoming 2023 high school class. He originally signed with the Blue Devils in November and became arguably the highest-ranked player in the program’s class for next year. Mgbako appeared in the McDonald’s All-American Game last month, playing over 14 minutes for the East team.
Mgbako’s decision comes on the same day that Duke forward Kyle Fillipowski opted to return to the school for his sophomore year instead of entering the NBA draft.
Ohio State, Memphis, Louisville and North Carolina all could pursue Mgbako if Duke grants the release, according to Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde.
