The Kentucky Wildcats will take the ground at Rupp Area for the primary common season recreation towards Howard on November seventh.
Whereas followers are excited throughout the board for the return of Oscar Tshiebwe, Sahvir Wheeler, Jacob Toppin, and others, it’s the new faces to the Kentucky basketball program that would make an enormous distinction to the result of this season.
Now let’s check out the most recent member of this yr’s frontcourt.
Ugonna Kingsley Onyenso
Top: 7-feet
Weight: 233 kilos
Class: Freshman
Place: Middle
Hometown: InitiallyfromNigeria however involves Lexington by means of Putnam, CT
Recruiting Rankings: Was thought-about a 4-star prospect within the class of 2022 and ranked because the No. 39 participant within the class by the 247 Sports activities Composite rankings.
A late reclassification to this yr’s recruiting class, Onyenso provides plenty of long-term worth to the boys’s basketball program.
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Referred to as the most effective shot-blockers in America throughout highschool, his defensive instincts will even carry over to his time in Lexington. This provides Kentucky one thing they haven’t had over the past a number of seasons — a dominant rim protector.
Now we have seen gamers just like Onyenso flourish below John Calipari at Kentucky; now it’s nearly persevering with to take the subsequent steps to spherical out his offensive recreation.
Over the course of the preseason, since his arrival on campus in August, we’ve got seen sneak peeks of his recreation, particularly on offense.
He has proven good contact across the basket, whereas additionally flashing a easy jumper that can seemingly solely get higher with time. Add in his dimension and size within the transition recreation, and he additionally might determine to be a pleasant lob risk for the minutes he’ll see this season.
That’s the place this entire query begins for Onyenso: How a lot will we see him take the courtroom this season?
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When he first arrived on campus, the plan was for Onyenso to redshirt for his first season in Lexington, permitting him to follow towards Oscar daily to assist him be ready to take over a beginning function subsequent season.
Now along with his play and the damage to Oscar Tshiebwe, it turns into a risk we might see Onyenso have an enormous function early this season. Together with his play and skillset, it ought to be one thing Massive Blue Nation ought to be excited to observe.
Onyenso got here to Kentucky with the plan of being the subsequent star huge man to return by Calipari’s program. Though his function this season comes behind Oscar and Lance, the long run could be very shiny for this system on the middle place for the subsequent few years to return.
And all of it comes again to the reps that he’s getting in follow towards the reigning NPOY this season. It’s going to be thrilling to see him proceed to take steps ahead this season.
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Now that the ink has dried and his signing with Kentucky has been made official, Jasper Johnson was finally able to be formally introduced to the Rupp Arena crowd during the Wildcats’ 87-68 win over Western Kentucky on Tuesday night.
Johnson, a class of 2025 five-star point guard born and raised in Lexington, sat courtside with his family to check out his future team in action against the Hilltoppers. During the second half, former Kentucky player Ravi Moss brought out the future Wildcat to midcourt where he was met with a chorus of cheers from the packed crowd of Big Blue Nationites.
After initially committing to Kentucky back in September, Johnson signed the necessary papers to play his college basketball at UK earlier this month. He’s been inside Rupp Arena plenty of times before over the years (and even played here with Woodford County as a sophomore), but never while wearing street clothes as the center of attention in front of over 20,000 screaming fans.
The smile says all you need to know.
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Johnson is one of three signees from Mark Pope‘s first recruiting class as Kentucky’s head coach, joining four-star center Malachi Moreno and four-star point guard Acaden Lewis. The 6-foot-4 guard is ranked No. 14 overall in the nation by the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s currently finishing up his high school career at Overtime Elite as a member of Rod Wave Elite (RWE).
Alongside Tay Kinney, a talented class of 2026 guard who is also from Kentucky and is being recruited by Pope, the two Bluegrass natives form arguably the deadliest backcourt duo in all of OTE. Through five games played this season, Johnson is averaging 19.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per outing while shooting 47.9 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from deep.
This time next year, we’ll hopefully see him do the same thing in Kentucky blue and white.
Johnson family – Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Clara Strack scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Teonni Key had 16 points and 13 rebounds and No. 14 Kentucky defeated Arizona State 77-61 on Tuesday in the Music City Classic to remain unbeaten.
Kentucky nearly had four players with double-doubles as Georgia Amoore added 20 points and nine rebounds and Amelia Hassett had eight points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats (6-0), who shot 42% and scored 13 points off 14 Arizona State turnovers.
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Jalyn Brown scored 16 points and Nevaeh Parkinson added 12 points and nine rebounds for the Sun Devils (3-3). Arizona State shot just 30%.
The Sun Devils cut a 19-point deficit to 11 after three quarters but a 6-0 burst with baskets by Key, Amoore and Strack built the lead back to 15 midway through the fourth.
Kentucky led 42-23 at halftime after outscoring the Sun Devils 27-9 in the second quarter, scoring the first 13 points of the period with Struck putting in the final seven in the run. A couple ASU free throws later, the Wildcats went on an 11-2 run capped by a Hassett 3 and the lead was 20. Strack scored 14 points and Key 10 in the half.
The teams continue play in the Music City Classic on Wednesday with Kentucky playing No. 19 Illinois and Arizona State facing South Dakota.
___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Rivalry week has finally arrived. The Louisville and Kentucky football program are set to do battle once again, facing off in Lexington for the annual Battle for the Governor’s Cup.
Here are the depth charts for both the Cardinals and Wildcats:
Changes from Louisville’s Depth Chart vs. Pitt:
Quarterback
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9 Tyler Shough (6-5, 230, Gr.) 10 Pierce Clarkson (6-1, 190, R-Fr.) OR 15 Harrison Bailey (6-5, 230, R-Sr.) OR 12 Brady Allen (6-6, 220, R-So)
Running Back
25 Isaac Brown (5-9, 190, Fr.) 21 Donald Chaney Jr. (5-10, 210, R-Jr.) 26 Duke Watson (6-0, 180, Fr.) 22 Keyjuan Brown (5-10, 210, R-Fr.)
Wide Receiver
0 Chris Bell (6-2, 220, Jr.) 81 Cataurus Hicks (5-10, 180, R-Fr.)
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