By SAM LANCE
MESA, AZ — Four-star guard Ethan Mgbako may be ranked in the 90s across various recruiting websites, but he’s proving he’s one of the best talents in the 2026 class.
At Nike EYBL Session 1, Mgbako was among the top scorers, averaging 18.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 47.6% from the field and 35.7% from beyond the arc. At 6-foot-6, 215-pounds, Mgbako plays a combo guard role and can be a matchup problem out on the perimeter. He helped Team Melo to a 2-1 record in Arizona.
“He shoots the ball really well,” Team Melo coach John Zito told ZAGSBLOG. “Very strong, imposing guard. He can punish guys physically when he has the ball in that lane. Guys kind of bounce off of him. I think people don’t know that he sees the floor incredibly well. There’s been situations where we put him on the ball and he’s done some really good things in terms of finding guys and taking off a scorer’s mentality. Taking that hat off and then putting on ‘Hey, now I got the ball and I have to be responsible for the other guys on the floor.’ He has that ability to kind of play both roles.”
When Mgbako is open, he simply doesn’t miss. Combine that with his ability to get downhill, and you’re looking at someone who can get buckets at will.
“I like to use my size to my advantage against a smaller guard because I’m a big guard playing the combo,” Mgbako said. “So I think it’s easier for me to score in multiple ways, shooting over them or just driving past them and using my body.”
Mgbako is the younger brother of former McDonald’s All-American and current Texas A&M small forward Mackenzie Mgbako.
“He worked so hard to become a five-star,” Mgbako said. “So I’m trying to create my own path but get the same accolades… “I love [Texas A&M] for him. I think he’ll strive in the SEC.”
On the recruitment front, Mgbako has 10+ offers from schools like Creighton, Florida State, Georgetown LSU, Mississippi State and West Virginia. Both LSU and South Carolina came to see Mgbako during his junior season at Oak Hill Academy (VA). The other schools involved?
“Illinois has been talking to me a lot,” Mgbako said. “So has Stanford, Princeton, LSU again. And there’s a lot more schools that I want.”
Mgbako hasn’t taken or planned any visits yet. He’s looking to get his exposure out more this summer and then plan as many visits as he can. Here’s Mgbako’s breakdown of some of the schools recruiting him currently:
LSU: “I talk to coach Casey [Long], and I love him. He’s great. He’s funny. And I just like their playing style.”
South Carolina: “South Carolina talks to my parents. I had a conversation with them in person. And [Lamont Paris] was also trying to recruit my brother when he was in the portal.”
Illinois: “I talked to coach Orlando [Antigua]. I had a great relationship with him when he was at Kentucky recruiting my brother. And now he’s trying to recruit me a little bit. So it’s a good experience.”
Stanford: “I talked to the assistant coach, coach Matt [Elkin]. He actually got a new coaching job. He’s coaching at Columbia now. But it was good when he was recruiting me.”
Mgbako said the Texas A&M staff hasn’t reached out yet, but he hopes they do.
“It would be great to go visit there when my brothers there,” Mgbako said. “Maybe he’ll give me the tour. I know that they love to play fast and they play really hard, tough-nailed defense. I love that because I want a coach to push me. I think he’ll do that for my brother.”
Mgbako’s family has Nigerian origins with his father coming over to the United States when he was 18-years-old.
The four-star guard played his junior season at Oak Hill Academy and is excited to return next season with Carmelo Anthony as the new co-general manager.
“I think it’s extremely cool, especially since I’m playing on his team [this summer],” Mgbako said. “He’s repping his alma mater. So I think it’s just a great experience. I’m learning a lot from him.”
Mgbako is ranked the No. 94 overall prospect in the 2026 class by 247Sports.
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