Aaron Bradshaw provides update on his injury recovery
Kentucky Wildcats freshman big man Aaron Bradshaw has been recovering from a foot surgery procedure he underwent during the summer. At Kentucky’s media day on Tuesday, On3’s Kentucky Sports Radio caught up with the 7-foot-1 Wildcats star to see how things have been since his foot surgery.
“I’m just trying to get back. It’s a lot of work on and off the court. And I’m just trying to be a better me, said Bradshaw.
As far as when Bradshaw will be able to play again, the big man has no clue. Currently, that decision appears to be left up to Kentucky head coach John Calipari and his training staff. But what Bradshaw does have control over is what he’s doing to return to action. And according to him, he’s doing everything he can and then some.
“Nah, I don’t have a timeline for that yet. But, like I said, I’m doing everything, and I’m trying to focus on getting better. That’s really it.”
The Wildcats would love to have Bradshaw ready for the start of the season. But it appears as if they are not rushing things with their five-star plus recruit out of the 2023 recruiting class, according to On3’s Industry Rankings. For now, Bradshaw and the rest of Wildcat Nation will have to wait until Calipari and the trainers give the thumbs up.
Calipari gives a timetable for Kentucky bigs injury recovery
Calipari spoke as part of SEC Media Day earlier in October and was asked about one of the key storylines in the lead-up to the season: Kentucky’s injured big men. Here was the update he gave on them:
“Look, they’re on the right path, both of them. Ugo is a little behind Aaron because of the timing of the injury and his surgery but they’re both progressing really good.”
Calipari said roughly a week ago during the Kentucky pro day that Bradshaw and Onyenso would be out another 5-6 weeks and also said that he wishes he hadn’t revealed that timeline, in case it happens to take longer.
Now, he’s indicated that Onyenso’s recovery is taking a bit longer than the freshman Bradshaw’s. So fans can hopefully expect the 7’1 five-star to suit up sooner rather than later.
More on Bradshaw, Onyenso injuries
The problem for seven-footers like Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso is that lower-leg injuries are killers. Bradshaw is sidelined after breaking his foot this past spring, a brutal setback for the incoming freshman and the No. 4 overall player in the On3 Industry Rankings.
The injury didn’t get Bradshaw down, though, and he was optimistic about his recovery once he received news that the foot was broken. However, that doesn’t mean he wasn’t upset at having to miss time on the court.
“It’s been hell, I’m not gonna lie,” Bradshaw told Cameron Mills on Behind Kentucky Basketball. “Just overcoming a lot of things.”