Kentucky’s Bradshaw, Onyenso out 5-6 more weeks

Jeff Borzello, ESPN Staff WriterOct 12, 2023, 12:52 PM ET

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• Basketball recruiting insider.
• Joined ESPN in 2014.
• Graduate of University of Delaware.Kentucky focuses Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna

  Onyenso are anticipated to miss out on another a number of weeks following offseason foot surgical treatments, coach John Calipari stated Wednesday.At Kentucky’s professional day Wednesday, Calipari stated on”SportsCenter”he has 2 huge guys “who are out another 5, six weeks. “He was describing Bradshaw and Onyenso, who each had foot surgery during the offseason. Bradshaw suffered his injury at the McDonald’s All American Game last spring, while Onyenso was hurt in July.Bradshaw was ranked as the No. 6 recruit in the ESPN 100 for the 2023 class, while Onyenso played in 16 games last season, blocking 16 shots in just 110 minutes.Both had indefinite schedules, however Calipari’s estimated return puts their accessibility for the start of the season into question. Kentucky opens the season against New Mexico State on Nov. 6 before hosting Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Nov. 10. The Wildcats then head to Chicago for a Champions Classic face-off against possible preseason No. 1 Kansas on Nov. 14. Without Bradshaw and Onyenso on the team’s trip to Canada for the GLOBL Jam tournament in July, Calipari was forced to use West Virginia transfer Tre Mitchell at the center spot.

  Mitchell was productive, and at 6-foot-9, he can playing in the post– however he’s more comfortable at the power forward position. “You should have rim security,”Calipari stated Wednesday. “If you don’t have post existence, your team’s a scams. Now perhaps you can sneak by, however to win 6 without rim protection, that is actually, actually

  tough.”On the favorable side, Calipari said Croatian big male Zvonimir Ivisic will be on school Thursday. Ivisic had the ability to enlist at the school previously this month, although it’s unclear when he will have the ability to get on the court for the Wildcats.Kentucky invites the country’s No. 1 recruiting class to Lexington this season, led by five-star employees Justin Edwards, D.J. Wagner, Bradshaw and Robert Dillingham. The Wildcats are ranked No. 15 in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25.”At Kentucky, winning 25

  , 22, 20 and not remaining in the Last 4, that’s not Kentucky excellent. We have actually been great, but not Kentucky great,”Calipari stated Wednesday.”Now, let’s see where we are, let’s get this young team, let’s get some huge guys. “When asked what issues him about this season’s team, Calipari added:” That we’re not going to have that big. That keeps me up. Our guard play is really good.”