Mackenzie Mgbako returning to Indiana basketball for sophomore season

Indiana basketball freshman wing Mackenzie Mgbako will be returning to Indiana for his sophomore year, according to a report.

247Sports National Analyst Brandon Jenkins reported the news on Saturday afternoon. Mackenzie Mgbako confirmed the news with an instagram post saying, “Run it back.”

Mgbako was named the Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year this season. He shared the award with Iowa forward Owen Freeman. Mgbako was a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week winner this season.

The 6-foot-8 wing averaged 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 assist per game. He shot 39.5 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from three.

He led all Big Ten freshmen in scoring. He started all 33 games.

It was well documented the struggles that Mgbako had in his first month of the season. He averaged just 5.0 points on 32 percent shooting in the first five games of the year. He was just 1-of-13 from three. He had a 13-point game against Wright State but the other four games totaled just 12 points.

In the final 28 games, Mgbako averaged 13.5 points and shot 35 percent from three on 1.8 made 3s per game. He had 24 games in double figures.

In Big Ten play alone, Mgbako averaged 13.6 points and shot 37.8 percent from three with 1.9 made 3s a game.

He had three 20-point games in the final month of the season, all coming in a five game span. 20 points against Northwestern. 22 points against Nebraska and 24 points against Maryland.

During Indiana basketball’s five-game winning streak at the end of the season it was in large part to the play of Mgbako. He averaged 15.4 points and made 2.4 3s a game.

“Sometimes you gotta fail to be successful,” Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson said about Mgbako in February. “I like his work ethic. When he’s in practice, he gives you what he’s got … I’m happy with Mack, man, I just think he’s gonna continue to get better as the games go along.”

Mgbako was rated the No. 8 overall prospect in the 2024 247Sports composite rankings. Mgbako originally committed to Duke before opening up his recruitment and committing to Indiana last spring.

Mgbako will join a core group of returners including starting forward Malik Reneau and starting guard Trey Galloway. Gabe Cupps, Anthony Leal and Jakai Newton also return. 2024 five-star wing Bryson Tucker also committed to Indiana basketball this week.

Indiana now has six available scholarships for next season.