Kentucky’s 2022-23 men’s basketball roster is finally complete.
The final piece to the puzzle is Ugonna Kingsley Onyenso, who arrived on campus Thursday evening. The Kentucky men’s basketball social media accounts confirmed his arrival Friday.
Onyenso announced his commitment to Kentucky in early August, reclassifying from 2023 to 2022 to join the Wildcats this season.
The 6-foot-11, 225-pound big man uses his size and speed to wreak havoc on the defensive end of the floor.
“I’m proud to join the Kentucky basketball family and I can’t wait to help work for a national championship,” Onyenso said when he signed with Kentucky in early August. “I’m so comfortable with Coach Cal and the staff and I know they will help me reach my goals as long as I work hard and come to play every day. I’m excited for their positionless style of play and I know I’m going to continue to get better because I’ll be pushed every day in practice with players who have the same drive that I do. I can’t wait to get to campus in August and get started.”
The Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, native spent this past season at Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut, the same program that former Wildcat Hamidou Diallo hailed from. With his reclassification, Onyenso is ranked in the top 35 by Rivals in the 2022 class and in the top 40 by 247Sports. He was rated in the top 25 by both outlets while in the 2023 class.
He joined Putnam in January and the squad was a perfect 20-0 with Onyenso on the roster. He averaged 11.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 5.7 blocks per game. Onyenso shot 64.4% from the floor and had five games with at least 10 blocked shots. The highlight of his season was a 24-point, 11-rebound, and 11-block triple-double.
