Meet the 2022-23 Kentucky Wildcats: Ugonna Onyenso is UK’s tallest, and youngest, player
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Need to know: Where every Wildcat fits for 2022-23
Meet every member of the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team through a series of preseason stories.
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We’re getting to know all 15 of the 2022-23 Kentucky Wildcats. Here is what to expect from one of the UK freshmen. Watch Kentucky.com for stories about all of the remaining Cats as the preseason unfolds.
Ugonna Onyenso
Uniform number: 33.
Height/weight: 6-11, 225.
Position: Forward.
Class: Freshman.
Age: 18.
Hometown: Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
High school: Putnam Science (Conn.).
Onyenso’s role in 2022-23: The final addition to this season’s roster, Onyenso didn’t commit to Kentucky until early August and didn’t join the program until later that month, missing the team’s preseason trip to the Bahamas.
Originally in the 2023 recruiting class, he reclassified late in the process and didn’t turn 18 years old until September — making him the youngest player on this team — but he’s held his own in UK’s preseason practices. For the time being, his biggest contribution will come by giving Oscar Tshiebwe a hard time in those practices, using his 6-11 frame and 7-4 wingspan to make things more difficult on the reigning national player of the year and force him to find new ways to score against players with length and athleticism.
His biggest on-court moments for the Cats are probably another year away — and he’ll be a major part of UK’s 2023-24 plans — but he’s also done enough this fall to get a chance as a freshman. Minutes will be difficult to come by with Tshiebwe getting the majority of the playing time at the “5” spot — and others battling to pick up what’s left — but Onyenso brings a combination of length, athleticism and shot-blocking ability unique to this team.
“Who does what he does? No one,” John Calipari said at media day. “... You’re going to get your minutes — you force me to play you more.”
This story was originally published November 2, 2022 at 7:00 AM.
