Aaron Bradshaw wants to contribute to winning: "Whatever it takes"

It’s been a tough road for Kentucky freshman Aaron Bradshaw, one he’s still navigating ahead of his debut season in Lexington. The 7-1 forward out of Roselle, N.J. broke his foot in the McDonald’s All-American Game back in March, followed by surgery in June.

He missed summer workouts and the Wildcats’ trip to Toronto for the GLOBL JAM. Then he missed preseason workouts, followed by UK Pro Day and Big Blue Madness. And he’ll miss the Blue-White Game and both of Kentucky’s exhibition games vs. Georgetown College and Kentucky State, at minimum, with John Calipari announcing Friday that he hopes to have both Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso back on the floor in “the next five weeks.”

The wait has been frustrating — Bradshaw previously said “it’s been hell, I’m not gonna lie” — but he’s made the most of his time with the team off the floor. He’s been the ultimate role model in camps and fan events, the ultimate hype man in team events.

“Aaron Bradshaw was unbelievable in the camps and in our community. The kids loved him, the parents loved him,” Calipari said earlier this summer. “… All I can tell you is every time, he grabs me, says, ‘I love you, Coach. Like, this kid is so excited about him being here and wants to help us win.”

Bradshaw got some jumpers up at Pro Day and was engaged at Big Blue Madness, dancing during player introductions and celebrating with his teammates during the 3-point and dunk contests. The one-year anniversary since his commitment to Kentucky — he made his surprise announcement just minutes before BBM 2022 — the freshman forward expressed his gratitude for the full-circle moment.

A year ago, he found his future home in Lexington.

“It was just electric, the fans, everybody,” Bradshaw told Jimmy Dykes on the SEC Network broadcast. “I really can’t explain that feeling, it was just so surreal. Everybody coming up, clapping and dapping me up. That was the love that I wanted. I’m not gonna lie, it was crazy.”

Fast forward a year (plus five weeks from now, potentially) and Bradshaw is ready to contribute to winning as a freshman. Whenever his number is called, the 7-1 forward is prepared to make the most of his opportunity.

“I just want to win. I’m gonna do whatever it takes to win,” Bradshaw said. “Rebound, block shots, shoot shots, box out, whatever I’ve got to do to win the game, I’m gonna do it.”

The former five-star recruit feels the Wildcats will be doing quite a bit of it this season, a like-minded group that puts others before themselves. That typically translates to winning basketball.

And he’s excited to be a part of that sooner rather than later.

“We all play together,” Bradshaw said. “Everybody, we bond really well together and mesh really well together. Everybody plays for each other and we all do stuff for each other.”

It may be a heavy dose of Tre Mitchell and Zvonimir Ivisic to open the season. But Bradshaw is ready to make an early statement when his time comes.