Kentucky Wildcats’ Ugonna Onyenso Suffers Broken Foot, Requires Surgery
Kentucky sophomore center Ugonna Onyenso suffered a broken foot during the Wildcats’ warmup scrimmage before the FIBA-affiliated GLOBL JAM in Canada last week. Sources have confirmed to The Athletic that Onyenso will require surgery and is expected to be sidelined for approximately two months. This injury comes as a blow to the Wildcats, as they already have 7-footer Aaron Bradshaw on the injured list due to foot surgery earlier this summer.
The absence of both Onyenso and Bradshaw leaves the Wildcats with their tallest player standing at 6-foot-9. This lack of height may pose challenges for the team, especially in terms of rebounding and rim protection.
Despite the setback, Kentucky managed to perform well at GLOBL JAM, winning all four games and securing the gold medal. They achieved this by utilizing West Virginia transfer Tre Mitchell as a stretch five, which allowed for a more dynamic offensive strategy. However, the team struggled with rebounding and lacked a strong defensive presence in the paint.
Looking ahead, even if both big men recover in time for the start of the season in November, they will have missed valuable practice and game opportunities. Bradshaw has yet to play a minute in college, while Onyenso only averaged 6.9 minutes in 16 appearances last season for Kentucky. The four games in Canada would have been crucial for their development.
These injuries raise an important question for coach John Calipari: Is it now necessary to add another big man to the roster before the season begins? The answer seems clear. Going into the season with only two true big men, both coming off foot surgeries, is risky. Kentucky had initially considered the possibility of bringing in Overtime Elite star Somto Cyril, a bruising and shot-blocking center committed to the 2024 class, earlier. However, Cyril decided to stick with his original plan and remain in the 2024 class. Therefore, it may be worth revisiting the idea of finding a big man through the transfer portal as a late addition, possibly as a graduate transfer.
In conclusion, the injury to Ugonna Onyenso and Aaron Bradshaw’s absence due to foot surgery have left the Kentucky Wildcats with a lack of height on their roster. While the team performed well at GLOBL JAM, their rebounding and rim protection were areas of concern. Coach John Calipari now faces the challenge of deciding whether to add another big man to the team before the start of the season. Regardless of the decision, both Onyenso and Bradshaw will need to work hard to catch up on missed practice and game time. The Wildcats’ upcoming matchup with Kansas and their star center Hunter Dickinson adds further urgency to finding a solution for their frontcourt depth.