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It’s great that Kentucky basketball fans are finally getting to see the full personality of freshman 7-footer Aaron Bradshaw now that’s healthy enough to play.
Remember all the speculation that Bradshaw might turn into another Shaedon Sharpe and just avoid playing at Kentucky rather than risk potentially hurting his NBA draft status. Bradshaw insisted he wanted to play and finally did last week and should again Saturday when UK takes on Penn in Philadelphia.
Kentucky is still waiting for 7-2 freshman Zvonimir Ivisic of Croatia to be cleared by the NCAA so he can play even though he’s now been enrolled at UK for almost two months. Bradshaw shared Thursday how much he’s enjoyed getting to know Ivisic.
“Z, it’s like having a 7-foot child with you at all times. Z is probably the funniest person on the team, and he cares a lot,” Bradshaw said. “It’s like, he’s one of my closest friends. I’m not even going to lie to you, he’s one of my closest friends. Me and him talk about playing together, being like a family.”
Bradshaw admitted it helped having Ivisic around when he was still rehabbing his injured ankle. The two almost alway sit together on the bench and often can be seen talking to each other and sometimes even laughing during games.
“Off the court, too, we always just chill, play (video) games, talk on the game, get food. We just have that brother bond,” Bradshaw said. “(His immaturity) is just his personality. He’s a really funny, really generous person.
“You can’t ask for a better 7-footer. He’s the perfect 7-footer. He plays basketball, he’s funny, does everything.”
Bradshaw told Jack Pilgrim of Kentucky Sports Radio that he’s been advising Ivisic about American culture.
“I put him on some Lil Durk. He’s taken to it quickly, he’s starting to know more songs than me now. He has a favorite song, it’s by Lil Baby. ‘Freestyle.’ He was listening to G Herbo, and I was like, ‘Bro, what? How do you know who G Herbo is?’ I’m like, ‘OK, I got you,’” Bradshaw said.
Bradshaw has also learned some different basketball techniques from Ivisic because of his European basketball background.
“On the screen, he rolls to the basket differently than we do here. I’m just taking little stuff like that, asking him questions about blocking shots. He’s a really good player,” Bradshaw said.
8 Responses
And the sad thing is we may never see Big Z play. UCLA got 2 international players that play professional ball overseas with paid as well and both were clear to play right before the season started by the NCAA. Don’t get what’s the hold up?
The hold up is that we’re Kentucky. If he had gone to Duke or North Carolina or obviously UCLA he would be playing by now.
Because of an inaccurate, woke Disney movie about Adolf Rupp being a racist, the Kentucky men’s basketball program and fans are the devil.
The NCAA (F’ing hoosiers) has a grudge against Kentucky and Calipari. Z turns 20 next week. Some team will draft him whether he plays for UK or not.
It took UCLA quite a while to get their players cleared as well. I saw Bradshaw and Big Z on the bench. Yucking last game while we were getting our ass handed to us. Not a good look.
Baloney. The bad look was on the court.
Yes it was on the court and they played like freshman
I really enjoy the articles you put out. They shed light on other aspects of UK. They provide insight about the players. Thank you for what you do and I hope you have a Happy and Safey Holiday Season!
The NCAA needs to get off their but. One other thing Coach Cal. I sent an email to ukmensbasketball@uky.edu that was very important to me. I sent it over a week ago and have not heard a word back.
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