Adou Thiero continues to show he belongs at Kentucky

Adou Thiero (UK Athletics Photo)

Adou Thiero was not supposed to be an impact player for Kentucky this season. He was a three-star prospect out of Pennsylvania and did not get a scholarship offer until his high school season was almost over.

But going into Sunday night’s exhibition game, Thiero continues to be one of the biggest preseason surprises on the Kentucky basketball team.

Even coach John Calipari is becoming a public believer who admits he might have to play Thiero more than he ever anticipated based on what he did during four games in the Bahamas and last week’s Blue-White Game.

“He’s behind some of the other guys, but so was Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander). So you can take it like Shai or Immanuel Quickley. And every time you perform, you prove you should be playing, or you don’t,” Calipari said at UK’s Media day. “Now Adou, like I said, it’s all the other stuff.”

“The biggest thing he did is he made jump shots, which he hasn’t made. But he made them (in the Blue-White Game). And I told him I was proud of him. And he went in with an attitude that, I’m going at dudes. And he did. And he’s physically able to do it. He’s still growing.”

Thiero averaged 4.3 points per game while shooting 3-for-6 from three-point range, 58.8 percent from the field and averaged 1.3 rebounds per game in the Bahamas. He went 10-for-17 from the field and had 12 rebounds, seven steals, seven assists and five blocks in only 57 minutes of play. In the Blue-White Game in Pikeville, the freshman guard had an impressive 21 points and 12 rebounds. He also had six assists and just looked like he belonged with the nation’s No. 4 team in the Associated Press preseason poll.

“I think I’ve learned a lot being around all the players on the team. “Everyone’s elite. Being around them and playing with them on and off the court. Just learning a lot from everyone,” the freshman said at UK’s Media Day.

His father, Almamy, played for Calipari at Memphis for three seasons. Adou Thiero came to Calipari’s camp at Kentucky and knew he wanted to eventually play for the Wildcats.

.”Ever since I knew what a basketball was, I’ve known who coach Calipari was,” Thiero said. “Growing up, I’ve always wanted to play for him.”

It looked like there was not much chance of that happening. He averaged 17.7 points per game as a sophomore at Quaker Valley High School in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania, and then averaged  21.8 points, 5.1 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game as a junior. His numbers got even better as a senior when he averaged 23.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.9 steals and 2.3 blocks per game to grab Calipari’s attention. He was also a way above average defender.

Maryland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Xavier all offered scholarships but the Kentucky offer left Thiero with an easy choice.

“In my head. I definitely was like, I know I’m going there, but I wanted to just hear other schools out and see if that was really best for me,” Thiero said. “But I knew I wanted to come here.”

Kentucky is becoming happier he did every day.

“He’s a kid that believes in himself and is willing to work. He can do a lot of things and he’s got some great players to learn with and from,” Kentucky assistant coach Orlando Antigua said.

The assistant said Calipari has never had a player quite like Thiero with the way he continues to grow and develop.

“He’s living out his dream but he’s earned the right to be at Kentucky,” Antigua said.