In a surprising turn of events, Indiana University forward Mackenzie Mgbako has decided to enter the transfer portal, as confirmed by multiple reports on Monday afternoon. The talented player made the announcement on his Instagram, where he also revealed his intention to declare for the 2025 NBA Draft.

In a heartfelt message, Mgbako articulated his gratitude towards Indiana University, stating, “After careful consideration and thorough reflection of my time at Indiana University, I would like to express my profound gratitude for the past two years. Wearing the iconic red and white has been a truly remarkable experience, and Indiana will always remain a formative part of my journey.”

He continued, “Given recent changes in the coaching staff, I have decided in consultation with my family that testing the waters of the NBA is the best course of action. This decision allows me to retain my eligibility in the transfer portal while paying close attention to developments within the Indiana program.”

Mgbako’s journey has been noteworthy; he emerged as a 2023 McDonald's All-American and was honored as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year during the 2023-24 season. As a sophomore, he played a significant role for the Hoosiers, averaging 12.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists over 25.1 minutes per game. Across his two years at Indiana, he has maintained similar averages with 12.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 32.8% from beyond the arc.

Originally one of the highest-ranked recruits in Indiana’s history, Mgbako had a tumultuous recruitment process, initially signing with Duke before ultimately choosing to play under Coach Mike Woodson in the spring of 2023. Despite being known as a sharpshooter in high school, he struggled with consistency, including a challenging 26.9% shooting from three-point range in Big Ten games during his sophomore year.

Mgbako did have standout performances, such as scoring 25 points against Purdue and achieving a career-high of 31 points in the opening game against SIUE. His improvement was visible on two-point attempts as he shot an impressive 52.6% from inside the arc, up from 45.3% in his freshman season.

However, despite his talent, Mgbako faced criticism over his defense and rebounding in crucial moments, leading to reduced playing time. His decision to enter the transfer portal comes amid a significant shake-up in the IU basketball program, which has seen two other players, Gabe Cupps and Malik Reneau, also exploring new opportunities.

Mgbako still has two seasons of eligibility remaining, leaving fans and analysts eager to see where his next chapter will take him. Could he find a more suitable environment to unleash his full potential? Only time will tell!