Indiana Basketball: Impact of Hoosiers landing 5-star forward Mackenzie Mgbako

Indiana Basketball’s roster now with Mgbako on it

When it comes to impact players for the Hoosiers, the only guy you can rely upon is the point guard Johnson, who is coming off an injury. Everyone else is based on potential, including Mgbako. That makes Indiana a team worth watching because they’ll have one of the higher ceilings in the league, as well as one of the lower floors.

Just looking at the frontcourt, you have a trio of five-star prospects (Ware. Reneau, Mgbako) set to start together. Reneau is a definite breakout candidate after averaging 6.1 ppg and 3.7 rpg in just 15 mpg off the bench. He’s a good offensive threat but the 6’9 forward shot just 2/8 from three-point range and doesn’t stretch the floor. Neither does Ware or Sparks at the five-spot.

That creates pressure on Mgbako to provide some level of spacing on offense. He has “potential” as a shooter but he’s not a quality spot-up guy. The five-star prospect is someone that can create but more inside the basket. There’s also Johnson, who is as streaky as it comes as a shooter from the perimeter.

That ultimately might be the price that Indiana pays to have this much talent on the frontcourt. They’ll have to settle potentially for some 4/20 three-point shooting games during next season but with the offensive talent on the floor, they may have enough ways to create points to not overly rely on the 3-point shot in order to win games.

That may not have an individual star like Jackson-Davis anymore to lead the frontcourt but Indiana Basketball could collectively be better inside if the team pulls out the potential of the forwards.