Duke 7-footer Kyle Filipowski announced Tuesday he will return to the Blue Devils for his sophomore season, great news for coach Jon Scheyer on a day he also got some bad news.
Just minutes after Filipowski posted his announcement to social media, five-star commit Mackenzie Mgbako wrote on his Twitter account that he had asked Duke for a release from his national letter of intent.
A 6-foot-8 power forward from New Jersey, Mgbako is ranked by the 247Sports composite as the No. 2 player at the position and No. 7 overall in the Class of 2023.
Filipowski was the No. 2 center and the No. 4 overall player in the 2022 class, and he said he has unfinished business at Duke.
“Being at Duke this past year has been such a blessing,” he said in a video posted to Twitter. “This team, this place, the crazies, it’s been incredible. … When I committed here, I said I wanted to help continue the Duke legacy. I said I wanted to help coach Scheyer build the foundation. I said I wanted to leave a legacy of my own. I meant what I said.”
Filipowski led the Blue Devils in points (15.1), rebounds (8.9) and steals (1.3). He was the Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the year and an all-conference second-team selection.
Respect my decision?? pic.twitter.com/qFxB7PefDI
— Kyle “Flip” Filipowski (@kylefilipowski) April 11, 2023
As for Mgbako, he said he wants to search for a different program. He committed to Duke in April 2022 and signed his letter of intent in November.
“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,” he wrote.
— Mackenzie Mgbako (@MackenzieMgbako) April 11, 2023
Mgbako was one of three power forwards in Duke’s 2023 recruiting class of five players. All of them are listed as five-star prospects.
Point guard Tyrese Proctor said he is returning to Duke this fall, but Jeremy Roach, Dariq Whitehead and Dereck Lively II all have declared for the 2023 NBA Draft.
The Blue Devils were 27-9 in the recently completed season and lost to Tennessee in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
–Field Level Media