Mackenzie Mgbako is on the move.
The 6-foot-8 forward who verbally committed to Duke in the Class of 2023 will transfer to New Jersey powerhouse Roselle Catholic from Gill St. Bernard’s for his senior season.
Mgbako’s younger brother, Ethan, will also enroll at Roselle Catholic for his freshman year.
“I transferred to Roselle because I felt it was the best fit for my brother and I [with] me going into my senior year and him going into his freshman,” he told NJ.com. “It’s not far from home [in Newark] at all and I’ve worked out there since eighth grade.”
Under coach Dave Boff, Roselle Catholic won its fourth New Jersey Tournament of Champions title last March over D.J. Wagner and Camden. It was the last year of the T of C as New Jersey opted to abolish the tournament going forward even though it is the only state in the nation that plays down to a single state champion from multiple groups.
“This year Roselle can be the best team in the country,” Mgbako said. “They did really well last year winning TOC so I’m just trying to add onto their success.”
Mgbako is ranked the No. 1 power forward in the Class of 2023 by 247Sports.com. He was named to NJ.com’s All-State First-Team and was also named the Skyland Conference Player of the Year after averaging 19.5 points, 10.6 points and 2.9 assists.
He committed to Duke in April over over Ohio State, Kentucky and Memphis.
According to one mock draft, he is the projected No. 4 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He was one of the most impressive players at Peach Jam, has a great shooting stroke and looks like a future pro.
“Obviously, he can play multiple positions,” Gill St. Bernard’s coach Mergin Sina said then. “He’s really learned to be more versatile, so I think that’s really going to translate, especially at Duke. I think it’s going to be a great fit for him.”
Sina said Mgbako was one of several players transferring out of his program. He listed Samir Thomas (Bergen Catholic), Chaz Mainor (St. Peter’s Prep), Pete Mauro (St. Rose), Geancarlo Peguero and Naasir Cunningham (Overtime Elite) as the others.
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After playing with the NJ Scholars at the Nike Peach Jam and then teaming with Bronny James for a game on the Strive For Greatness team during an event in Las Vegas, Mgbako will turn his attention to his senior season.
“I’m looking to work on my ball handling and and defense,” he said.
He will team up with North Carolina-bound guard Simeon Wilcher, who helped lead the Albany City Rocks to the Peach Jam quarterfinals.
At last year’s Final Four, two players from White Plains (N.Y.) Archbishop Stepinac, Duke’s A.J. Griffin and North Carolina’s R.J. Davis, competed against one another in the Final Four.
Mgbako said he plans to focus on coach Jon Scheyer and how he runs the program in his first season taking over for the retired Mike Krzyzewski.
“Regarding Duke and Coach Scheyer, I’ll be watching every game supporting and rooting for them all the way,” he said.
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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.