LEXINGTON โ Ugona Onyenso decided two years of college was enough. Onienso, a sophomore forward from the University of Kentucky, announced Monday that he will enter the 2024 NBA Draft.
He revealed his decision to ESPN, saying he plans to hire an agent and end his college career.
“I'm ready to move on to the next level,” Onienso told ESPN NBA Draft analysts. Jonathan Gibbony. “I'm not thinking about returning to college basketball. I'm 100% focused on the NBA.”
However, there is no guarantee that he will be selected.
Recent mock drafts from five media outlets — USA TODAY, ESPN, Bleacher Report, The Ringer and NBAdraft.net — project Onienso to be one of only one pick in a 58-man draft. ESPN projected him to go to the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round with the 45th overall pick.
Onienso made his first appearance Dec. 16 against North Carolina on CBS after missing the Toronto trip for the GLOBL JAM Tournament, the preseason exhibition and the first nine games of the 2023-24 regular season due to a foot injury. fulfilled. Sports Classic in Atlanta. He played 10 minutes and got 3 blocks off the bench. Continuing to improve his form, Onienso made his first start of the season on January 31st against Florida. Although the Wildcats lost to the Gators in overtime, Onienso had the best performance of his career to that point, setting his career high. points (13) and blocks (8).
He improved his performance even further in February against Ole Miss, tying the Rupp Arena record set by Hall of Famer David Robinson in 1987 with 10 blocks.
During the 2023-24 season, Onienso played in 24 games and started 14 with former coach John Calipari and the Wildcats.
He finished the season averaging 3.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks in 18.7 minutes per game. Among UK players with at least 30 blocks in a season, Onienso's average blocks per game (2.80) ranks behind Anthony Davis (4.65 in 2011-12) and Nerlens Noel (4.42 in 2012). , the fifth-best record in program history. 13), Willie Cauley-Stein (2.86 in 2013-14), and Sam Bowie (2.86 in 1980-81).
As a freshman in 2022-23, Onienso played in 16 games, averaging 6.9 minutes per game. He averaged one block per game.
According to Sports-Reference.com, Onienso's block percentage (a measure that estimates the percentage of an opponent's two-point field goal attempts blocked by players on the floor) for the 2022-23 season was 15.9; His 23rd season would have been his 9th best season. Since 2009-10, when the statistic began being tracked, players became Division I players if they played well enough to qualify.
Onienso committed to join the Wildcats in August 2022. He was originally in the 2023 class, but was reclassified and enrolled early as part of Kentucky's 2022 recruiting process. Onienso was rated a four-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN, while On3 gave him five stars. Onienso was a four-star prospect ranked No. 36 overall and No. 9 center in the country in the 2022 cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Contact Kentucky men's basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow @RyanABlack on X.