Could Aaron Bradshaw be Kentucky’s Most Consistent Shooter?

(McDonald's All-American Games Photo)

Kentucky basketball fans are counting on the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class — Justin Edwards, DJ Wagner, Aaron Bradshaw, Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham — to get Kentucky back in the national championship hunt next season.

“The wild thing about this class is this: You know who people are saying could have the most upside? The 7-footer, Aaron,” Calipari told John Fanta, a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. “Aaron has gotten so much better, and he’s grown up more than I can tell you in the last year.

“But all these kids are that way with their upside and talent. That’s why I’m excited. They understand what it means to be a great teammate. But more than anything they’re gym rats. If you look at some of my best players — Tyler Herro or Brandon Knight come to mind — they were always in the gym working. Brandon would head to the gym, then go and study for his chemistry test. And he was doing that with a month left in school.”

Bradshaw vaulted to No. 2 in the Rivals.com and 247Sports.com 2023 recruiting ranks and was sixth in the ESPN ratings. He played in both the McDonald’s All-American Game and Iverson Classic.

Calipari also told Fanta something about Bradshaw that should really intrigue Kentucky fans.

“He may be the most consistent shooter we have. He’s a 4-man and if he’s your 5, we can play 5-out unless he wants to run to the post because he can score there,” Calipari said. “The key for him at the 4 is that you’ve got to learn how to guard the 4. That’s what we are here to help him learn about.”

The 7-1 Bradshaw has indicated he will play the 4 and not center but with UK not getting transfer Hunter Dickinson, Oscar Tshiebwe still in the NBA Draft and Lance Ware transferring, Calipari mentioning Bradshaw at the 5 could indicate he’s already thinking ahead to what he might do with Bradshaw.