Two former IU basketball players have earned a major opportunity this week.
After shining at the NBA G League Elite Camp this weekend, Mackenzie Mgbako and Tamar Bates have been called up to the NBA Draft Combine this week in Chicago.
Bates averaged 14 points in two G League Elite Camp games over the weekend, while Mgbako poured in 20.5 per contest.
Both players came to IU after decorated high school careers and spent two seasons in Bloomington playing for Mike Woodson.
A national top-30 recruit, Bates was originally committed to play at Texas but flipped to IU following a coaching change there in 2021. He joined Woodson’s first Indiana team for the 2021-22 campaign.
As a sophomore at Indiana, the Kansas City, Kan. product was one of three Hoosiers to play in all 35 games during the 2022-23 season. He earned the first two starts of his career and averaged 6.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists for his sophomore campaign.
Bates’ production increased dramatically as an upperclassman at Missouri. For the 2024-2025 season, he was a team captain for the Tigers and averaged 13.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals and an assist per game.
Mgbako averaged 12.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game this season for IU. Mgbako shot 43.7% (139-of-318) from the floor, 32.9% (47-of-143) from the 3-point line, and 81.0% (64-of-79) from the free throw line.
Mgbako was the Big Ten’s co-Freshman of the Year in 2024. He was one of two freshmen in the NCAA to score over 400 points, make at least 50 3-pointers, convert on 90-plus free throws, and grab at least 125 rebounds. As a freshman Mgbako was one of two Hoosiers to start all 33 games. He averaged 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 27.1 minutes per game.
Mgbako transferred to Texas A&M last month following the Indiana coaching change.
In total, five players were called up to the NBA Draft Combine. The other three were Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Penn State), Ryan Nembhard (Gonzaga) and Lachlan Olbrich (Illawarra/Australia).
The Draft Combine began Sunday, and runs through May 18 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. The NBA Draft Lottery will be held May 12 in Chicago. The 2025 NBA Draft will be held Wednesday, June 25 in New York.
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