John Calipari, Chin Coleman visit five-star center Ugonna Kingsley
Aaron Bradshaw isn’t the only five-star center Kentucky is making a significant push for in the rising senior class. The coaching staff is also hoping to land shot-blocking standout Ugonna Kingsley, who John Calipari and Chin Coleman were in attendance to see at the NBA Global Academy Games in Atlanta on Thursday.
Recruiting insider Andrew Slater posted a picture of the Kentucky coaching duo courtside at the event this afternoon.
Kingsley is rated as the No. 5 overall prospect and No. 1 center in On3’s latest player rankings in the class of 2023. Widely seen as the best shot-blocking talent in high school basketball, the 6-foot-11 center is an elite defender who runs the floor well and finishes with explosion around the rim. He remains raw offensively, but his defensive potential is second-to-none.
“What I do best is blocking shots and getting rebounds, and at first, I thought it was just because I’m tall,” Kingsley told KSR at the 2022 Pangos All-American Camp. “Then I noticed the other tall players in my class, they don’t do what I’m doing. I know I’m the best defender in the country, I’m a great shot-blocker.”
The Wildcats are extremely high on Kingsley, and luckily for the program, he’s extremely high on Kentucky, as well. He said himself he’s wanted to go to Kentucky “all my life, even before coming to the (United) States” back in June.
“I know it is a good program for athletes, a lot of their guys are pros,” Kingsley told On3. “I know Oscar Tshiebwe is also from (Africa), it means a lot he has had great success there.”
The native of Nigeria is in the process of scheduling and taking official visits this summer, with a decision expected to come shortly after. UK remains in a strong position to land Kingsley, multiple sources tell KSR.
What is he looking for in a school? Relationships, first and foremost.
“I am going to look closely at how the coaches interact with the players,” Kingsley told On3. “If the coach has a good relationship with his players it is going to help you out mentally. Someone like me, coming from Africa, a player and coach relationship is big for me.”
The NBA Global Academy Games are scheduled to run from July 6-10 at the Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in Atlanta.
Discuss This Article
Comments have moved.
Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.
KSBoard