Freshman forward Ugonna Onyenso, standing at 6’11” and weighing 225 pounds, has been putting up impressive numbers when he has been in games this year.
On November 11th, 2022, he recorded a season-high 9 points against Duquesne, shooting 4 for 7 from the field. His highest minutes played in a single game came against Howard on November 7th, where he played for 20 minutes.
Onyenso has been efficient in his shooting, with a season high of 4 field goals made against Duquesne.
On the defensive end, Onyenso has recorded a season-high of 10 rebounds against North Florida on November 23rd, 2022. He has also been a force in blocking, recording a season-high of 4 blocks against Howard on November 7th, 2022. In addition, he has also recorded a steal against Auburn on February 25th, 2023.
Onyenso has shown great potential as a freshman and has been a valuable addition to his team. With his size and skillset, he is a player to keep an eye on in the upcoming seasons but he’s going to need more time to develop.
The Backstory…
Onyenso is no stranger to the spotlight, having played at the NBA Academy Africa before reclassifying to the 2022 class and joining Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut for his senior season. The same program that produced former Wildcat Hamidou Diallo, Onyenso made an instant impact, helping Putnam go undefeated and win a national championship. He averaged 11.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 5.7 blocks per game, while shooting an impressive 64.4% from the floor. He also had five games with at least 10 blocked shots and recorded a triple-double with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 blocks.
Onyenso continued to impress during the summer of 2022, playing at the NBA Academy Games where he scored in double figures in each of the six games he appeared. He averaged 13.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game, connecting on 64.4% of his field-goal attempts. He also grabbed 32 total boards (5.3 per game) on the offensive end.
Before joining Putnam, Onyenso spent over two years at the NBA Academy Africa, participating in high-profile international competitions in Europe, Mexico, and the United States, including the Tarkanian Classic and NBA Academy exhibition games. In Hungary, he played a key role in leading NBA Academy Africa to victory in the European Youth Basketball League Tournament.
In February of 2020, Onyenso became one of the youngest players ever to make the senior men’s Nigerian National Team. He made his debut with the team at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers in November of 2021, scoring 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting, and contributing four rebounds and two blocks in just 16 minutes.
Onyenso’s talent, work ethic, and potential have drawn comparisons to NBA stars such as Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo. With his combination of size, athleticism, and skills, it’s no wonder why he’s turning heads in the college basketball world.
If he sticks around at Kentucky and puts the work in over the summer he could be a game changer for the Kentucky Wildcats.
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