Ugonna Onyenso's plan of being nation's top shot-blocker is well underway

Ugonna Onyenso was seen as a long-term project piece when he committed to Kentucky. Arriving in the United States back in January, he played a single high school season at Putnam Science Academy before reclassifying and joining the Wildcats on campus in late August.

Outside expectations were low, but internally, optimism regarding the 6-foot-11 shot-blocker grew by the practice. Coaches raved about his high basketball IQ, showing off an ability to grasp concepts and learn from mistakes quickly. He was raw offensively, but would his defensive tools force John Calipari’s hand to play him earlier than anticipated?

Onyenso wasn’t sure, immediately at least. What he was sure of, though, was that he would be prepared if and when his number was called. The timeline was out of his hands, but when his opportunity came, he was excited to show the world the level of impact he could make, specifically as a defender.

“I was the best shot blocker in high school,” Onyenso told KSR during a one-on-one interview leading up to the season. “Now I believe I’m going to be the best shot blocker in college.”

Quite the statement to make for someone who had just arrived on campus, but one he was clearly comfortable making.

His confidence as a shot-blocker at the time made perfect sense. He was coming off a high school season where he emerged as the best defender in the country, regardless of class. Onyenso closed out his career leading Putnam to the 2022 National Prep Championship, a run that saw the Nigerian standout block 40 shots in five games en route to the title.

“That’s when I was like, ‘Damn, OK. This is what I’m good at. I’m going to keep improving on that,'” he told KSR.

On the year, Onyenso averaged 11.4 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.7 blocks in 20 games on the Putnam roster — all wins. He managed five games of at least 10 blocks. The offensive skill was and remains a work in progress, but he quickly realized he had a gift as a shot-blocking specialist — and it was helping his team win games. A lot of them.

“Playing basketball, my goal was to help my team any way I could. I found that I could help my team through defense,” Onyenso told KSR. “I thought, ‘Let me just use my length to my advantage.’ So I became all about shot blocking, rim protection. My main focus was on helping my team on defense. That’s why I have great timing when blocking shots.”

There was a clear learning curve when he made the jump from high school to college late in the summer. Physically, he was behind, struggling with the size, length and athleticism in early practices inside the Joe Craft Center.

Onyenso couldn’t block shots simply because he had the biggest wingspan or vertical on the floor by a country mile anymore. Timing and footwork would have to be prioritized if he wanted to find similar production at this level.

“Coming to college, it’s been different for me because it’s not as easy as it used to be in high school,” he told KSR. “I’m finding it a little more difficult to block shots in college because the guys are faster, quicker with their release. I’m just trying to catch up with that pace and start blocking those shots and also start getting the timing right for blocking shots here.”

Like the coaches said, though, he learns quickly. Very quickly. Averaging just 11.1 minutes in seven games, Onyenso is putting up 4.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per contest. Impressive numbers on the surface, specifically as a defender, with the freshman center ranked No. 25 in college basketball in blocks per game. That’s with no added context, no minute thresholds or a certain number of games played, nothing.

Below the surface, though, the native of Nigeria is averaging 7.6 blocks per 40 minutes and 10.7 blocks per 100 possessions. The only player to hit either of those marks in college basketball? Western Kentucky standout Jamarion Sharp, who leads the country with 5.0 blocks per game. The 7-foot-5, 235-pound center currently swats away 8.16 shots per 40 minutes and 11.97 per 100 possessions.

No one else in the country comes close to Onyenso’s efficiency, especially at the Power 5 level. The next closest are two Auburn Tigers in Dylan Cardwell (6.58 blocks per 40 minutes, 9.65 blocks per 100 possessions) and Johni Broome (6.31, 9.35).

Among major conference bigs, Onyenso is in a world of his own. And he’s barely playing — for now, at least.

John Calipari announced earlier this season it would be a game-by-game decision regarding the backup center position behind superstar senior Oscar Tshiebwe. When the Wildcats need tough, gritty minutes, Lance Ware would be the guy. If length and defense was necessary, Onyenso would see the floor. After splitting reps to open the season with Tshiebwe out due to injury, Calipari went with Ware as the primary backup in the big games (15 minutes vs. Michigan State, 10 vs. Gonzaga). Onyenso played a little over two minutes total in that stretch.

Then came Kentucky’s trip to London to take on Michigan, a breakthrough moment for the freshman center. In seven minutes played against real competition, Onyenso racked up a quick four points, two rebounds and two blocks. He took his early lumps, but when he settled in on the big stage, he shined.

It was all Calipari needed to see. The backup center position was solidified, with Onyenso emerging as the clear answer.

“You know now that I need to play Ugonna,” the Kentucky head coach said after the 73-69 win. “He’s gotta be that other big. And that’s what I’ll do.”

It’s a fine line between producing enough in the short term while working toward his clear-as-day long-term potential. Kentucky knew what it had down the road, a defensive superstar that could join the likes of Anthony Davis, Nerlens Noel and Willie Cauley-Stein in terms of instincts and game-changing abilities on that end of the floor. But could he give you enough on the other end to play now? Could he avoid unnecessary fouls and missed assignments on defense to let his shot-blocking talents shine through?

So far, so good. Really good.

Onyenso knows his long-term goals. Like most up-and-coming basketball players, he wants to play in the NBA and show off what he can do on basketball’s biggest and brightest stage. But he’s in no rush to get there. He knows who he is as a basketball player and the development he has to make to reach those goals.

Until then, he just wants to help his team however he can.

“I’m not worried about the NBA right now, I’m just worried about getting ready to play in the NBA down the road. Going to the NBA is not my problem yet. My problem is getting ready now to play college basketball, you know?” he told KSR. “Basketball has different stages and I’m worried about this stage right now, college basketball games. That’s what I’m getting ready for. I’m working toward getting to the league, but only when the time comes. I’ll get where I want when it comes to the NBA. …

“My goal individually (for now) is to do the best I can, do my best to help my team. My team goals are to bond with the team and connect with them on the court, work to win a championship.”

That’s why he chose to reclassify and sign with Kentucky in the first place. He knows Calipari will help him join the long list of other elite bigs to come through the program, dominating at this level and winning games before taking those talents to the league.

“It’s about Coach Calipari and the way he coaches, the way they play here. It’s the system,” Onyenso said. “I’ve just wanted to play for Coach Calipari for a very long time, that’s been my dream. Playing for someone like Coach Cal is a very big honor for me because of how he’s developed his players, especially his bigs. He’s got a track record with bigs.

“It’s a very big opportunity for me to play for someone like him, where he can develop me to the point where I can be like the other bigs that left this program.”

As Calipari made clear after the Michigan win, that opportunity is finally here for Onyenso.