Aaron Bradshaw, left, with coaches John Calipari and Chin Coleman along with teammate DJ Wagner. (Twitter Photo)
When and if 7-footer Aaron Bradshaw does fully recover from his foot injury what kind of impact will he have for coach John Calipari’s team this season?
If his teammates are right, it’s going to have a really big impact based on what they said in interviews before the team played in Canada. Bradshaw missed all four games after his surgery to repair an injury suffered in the McDonald’s All-American Game in March but he’s apparently still on track to be ready when the season starts in November.
“He’s going to have a great impact,” UK freshman DJ Wagner, Bradshaw’s high school teammate, said.
Wagner said Bradshaw had been a “great teammate” even while he has been unable to play and when he is healthy will change the way UK can play.
“Just opening up the floor and stuff like that for us. He’s a great player. Just opening up the floor and making the game a lot easier for all of us,” Wagner said.
Bradshaw was a consensus top five player in the 2023 recruiting class and has been projected as a possible first-round NBA draft pick in 2024. Wagner and Justin Edwards, another UK freshman who competed against Bradshaw in travel ball often, also are being projected as possible first-round picks.
“He’s a really good player. Just by him being able to stretch the floor, I feel like he’s going to be a good piece for our team, and how we play so far. It is kind of rare. I’m looking forward to playing together,” Edwards said.
Kentucky freshman Reed Sheppard likes the energy Bradshaw has and displayed in the McDonald’s All-American Game.
“He brings a different type of energy. He’s going to play his hardest every game, and bring everything he has. He’s a great shot-blocker. He can make plays. He’s really good at just bringing energy,” Sheppard said.
19 Responses
Don’t expect much from Bradshaw in the early going. Foot injuries are quirky. Sometimes they take longer to heal than expected. Bradshaw will need time to get back into playing condition. He should be in the weight room bulking up but he seems to think he will be a stretch 4 guy, but if that’s the case, he will be playing behind Mitchell. That would give him time to get back into shape and get a better handle on the offense and defense so he won’t look lost when he is on the floor. He might even want to think about redshirting this year. That would improve his draft stock tremendously since he would have time to heal and be a starter on next year’s team, but he may have NBAitis which could bite both him and the team if he tries to play this year.
I love that idea of redshirting this year! Probably similar to a snowball’s chance in Hades, but I really do like the idea.
yeah I don’t think that happens John
Nbaitis, that’s good and more like Gitis League. They brag about all the former players in the NBA. Most are in the G from last 5 year debacles.
Can’t wait to see this kid play, he seems got all the tangibles to be a great impact for the cats.
This kid will be just fine. I believe him and Mitchell will split minutes at the 4. I expect him to be a major contributor towards this teams success I’m very excited and can’t wait to see what these guys can do once healthy and after having a little experience under their belt! Go big blue! #BBN #859
No doubt he can play and help
Keep in mind Mitchell played on a team that won 7 conference games last year. It’ll be different at UK for sure but everyone thinks he’s a huge get from Huggies Bear. Now, Big O on the other hand was definitely a great transfer. Rebound machine.
I agree he should be in the weight room! Doing stuff that will help him put on some muscle weight. He needs to belly up to the table and start eating the right foods! If he does play when the season starts Cal needs to limit his minutes until he gets is groove back! He only had 10 days of practice with the team so it’s gonna be touch and go! I’ve got high expectations for this kid. I think he’ll slowly get the fill back and be a awesome player for Cal and the team. Go BBN
I think they will be very cautious with him Kenneth
Like Livingston who got a 7 million dollar contract to play for the Wisconsin Herd. The Bucks G League affiliate. If Rupp had a G team we might be ok with it. Oh but the coffers over at UK might not like that. Hmmm I wonder why.
Unfortunately Lucas is more convincing down at dUKe. "3 of those players could have been #1 draft pics"- this is his last year. He’s was hired to win. And they haven’t sniffed an SEC in 5 years. 3rd place is not going to cut it. If he was a Hall of Fame coach. He’d have atleast 2 more banners with the talent he pushes off. This is not UK basketball. He has the NBA ingrained in their head. Zero chemistry year in & year out. This season may be fun, but we are KENTUCKY. We need a coach like Bennett or Self to tamp down all the NBA retroric. He needs to go.
https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/college-basketball-offseason-winners-and-losers-duke-scores-continuity-west-virginia-plummets-from-high/
Redshirt. Use UK weight room and facilities. Sign a few autographs. Get healthy and go pro. Won’t play 1 minute at UK.
I don’t think that’s what’s he’s here for, the kid stated he wants to play once healthy .
Vanderbilt, Clarke, Sharpe are like Lucy. They tee the football up. And us fans are like Charlie Brown. We say OMG! We’re going to have these studs play and we’re going to win all these games and have such a great season and we’re so excited! Then they pull the football away and we kick and fall on our butt.
And maybe add Bradshaw to that list
I wish we could play Cincinnati this year.
How’s that Joey Hart playing time working out?
hard to know in August