Ugonna Kingsley will reclassify to 2022. And the top Kentucky basketball recruiting links.
Five-star center Ugonna Kingsley Onyenso arrived for his official visit to Kentucky on Wednesday, and the Wildcats have been trending heavily for the highly touted basketball recruit.
Onyenso — a 7-footer from Nigeria — plays for Putnam Science Academy (Conn.), the same program that featured Hamidou Diallo before he came to UK. Currently, Onyenso is the No. 22 overall prospect in the 2023 class, but it was confirmed Thursday that he will reclassify to 2022 and be on a college campus for good this season. If he does pick Kentucky, the star center won’t come in with an immediate expectation of playing time — with national player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe back for the Wildcats — and could redshirt the 2022-23 season before beginning his college career next year.
A total of six picks have been placed on Onyenso’s 247Sports Crystal Ball and other prediction pages over the past month, all of them in favor of Kentucky. Analysts who cover recruiting nationally for 247, Rivals.com and On3.com have all placed pro-UK picks in recent weeks. Onyenso took an official visit to Oklahoma State late last month and is expected to be on Oklahoma’s campus this coming weekend, but UK is the clear favorite.
Top Kentucky basketball recruiting links
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Q&A with Elliot Cadeau, one of the top points guards for 2024
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247 VIP story: DJ Wagner won’t announce decision at Peach Jam
Robert Dillingham is looking to be a star, win title at Kentucky
National analyst: Arkansas is favorite for top-ranked C Baye Fall
Peach Jam notes: Aaron Bradshaw is due for a rise in the rankings
Boogie Fland on Kentucky offer: ‘Definitely put a smile on my face’
Justin Edwards will announce his decision at 7 p.m. on Monday
Peach Jam notes on Justin Edwards, Bronny James and others
2025 star Cameron Boozer: ‘I’m all in on going to college right now’
NBA Draft prospect Sidy Cissoko signs with G League’s program
More Next Cats links: Crystal Ball has good news for the Wildcats
This story was originally published July 20, 2022 at 7:00 AM.
