Kentucky’s freshman Adou Thiero is making a name for himself in the 2022-23 season. The 6′ 8″ forward from France has appeared in 14 games for the Wildcats, averaging 2.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game.
Thiero’s season-high in points came against South Carolina State on November 17, 2022, where he scored six points in just eight minutes of play. He also had a season-high five rebounds against Alabama on January 7, 2023.
Thiero has been a reliable free-throw shooter for Kentucky, making 20 of his 27 attempts for a 74% average. His best game from the charity stripe came against Tennessee on January 14, 2023, where he made four out of six free-throws.
Thiero has also been active on the defensive end, recording six blocks and eight steals in his 14 appearances. He had two blocks against North Florida on November 23, 2022, and two steals against Tennessee on January 14, 2023.
Despite limited playing time, Thiero has shown flashes of his potential throughout the season. He made his first career three-pointer against Missouri on December 28, 2022, and his season-high 18 minutes of play came against Alabama on January 7, 2023.
In Kentucky’s win against Georgia on February 11, 2023, Thiero recorded a career-high one assist.
Thiero’s contributions have been important for the Wildcats this season as they strive to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. As Thiero continues to gain experience and confidence, he has the potential to become a key player for Kentucky in the seasons to come.
The Backstory
This versatile combo guard had an impressive high school career, averaging 23.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.9 steals and 2.3 blocks per game, leading Quaker Valley to a remarkable 27-1 record and a perfect 14-0 mark in league play. Despite scoring 18 points in the team’s only loss of the season against Neumann-Goretti in the 2022 PIAA Boys’ Basketball Championships, he finished his career with 1,624 points, the third highest in team history.
His standout performances earned him numerous accolades, including the 4A Player of the Year, the WPIAL Player of the Year, and the 2022 TribLive HSSN Boys Basketball Player of the Year. He set a new school record with a 44-point game against Hopewell, and also put up 40 points against Highlands in the Pittsburgh Basketball Club Showcase. In a state tournament second-round victory against Belle Vernon, he recorded a triple-double with 21 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds, and seven blocks. He also led Quaker Valley in scoring as a sophomore with 17.7 points per game and as a junior, he tallied 21.8 points per game while also averaging team-highs in assists, steals, and blocks.
Off the court, he is passionate about community service and has worked with the Gear Up Ségou project. He also participated in soccer and lacrosse. When he’s not playing sports, he enjoys playing video games. He wears jersey number 3 in honor of his father and his most prized possession is his shoe collection. He loves to eat chicken and shrimp alfredo and his favorite TV show is Power. After considering several schools, he chose to continue his basketball career at Kentucky, turning down offers from Xavier, Duquesne, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Maryland.
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