Growth On and Off the Court Increase Adou Thiero's Sophomore Expectations

Hitting the weight room has helped create a new-look Thiero ahead of the 2023-24 season.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Adou Thiero is a man of few words. He hopes that his ability on the court as a sophomore for Kentucky basketball will speak for him this season. 

The Wildcats will be more reliant on the Leetsdale, Pa. product, who essentially had a glorified redshirt year as a freshman during the 2022-23 campaign. In 20 games last season, Thiero averaged 9.7 minutes and just 2.3 points and 1.9 rebounds a night. 

As the season moved onward, playing time dwindled at points, leaving him as an emergency guard in case foul trouble or injury arose. He was needed more during the last few weeks of the regular season, as point guard Sahvir Wheeler was on the shelf for much of the back half.

Based on blanket stats and production, one wouldn't be too excited about Thiero being a potential option for head coach John Calipari, as the No. 1 recruiting class in the country features three young and impressive options in the backcourt, while fifth-year senior shooting guard Antonio Reeves returns for a final season in Lexington. 

Stats don't tell the entire story, though. 

Thiero brought that quintessential scrappiness that only an underrated freshman could possess a year ago. Fighting for loose balls, winning 50-50's, grabbing a board over a sea of others in the paint. There were multiple moments that caught the attention of Calipari and Big Blue Nation, though they didn't show up in the box score. 

That's led to a few extra dashes of hype, as he finds a spot in the 2023-24 roster. Thiero has also been aided by an offseason full of hard work in the gym and a bit of a growth spirt. 

After arriving at Lexington at around 180 pounds, Thiero now sits at 217, according to a post from Brady Welsh, UK's strength and conditioning coach:

Look at Adou Thiero and Ugonna Onyenso's transformations 👀

📸 Braden Welsh pic.twitter.com/SsSqp258a6

— Wyatt Huff (@Wildcat_wave) July 2, 2023

Calipari praised Thiero when speaking to reporters last week, citing that gym-rat mentality that has led to his transformation.

“You have Adou, who’s looking more and more physically like his dad (Almamy Thiero), who I coached. He’s probably near 6-7 now and he can play multiple positions — probably a 3 and a 4," Calipari said. "But he’s way more confident, so yes he’s better. He’s living in the gym. He learned from a year ago you have to spend time at this. Doesn’t just happen, it’s not just games, it’s about the preparation. So he’s been great.”

Thiero agreed, citing some early interactions on the court with former Wildcat forward Chris Livingston as a wake-up call to bulk up. 

"As soon as I got here, I remember I got matched up with Chris and he gave me a mean shoulder to the middle of my chest. After that, I knew I had to get stronger," he said.

Now projecting as a forward in the young and ever-growing Kentucky roster, Thiero has to take that freshman fire he had a year ago and keep it in his game, while cutting out those dumb freshman mistakes that often came with the added aggressiveness. 

Rebounding will be a key, as the Cats no longer have Oscar Tshiebwe — an actual magnet for the basketball — roaming around the paint. Ugonna Onyenso and Aaron Bradshaw are expected to contribute mightily, if healthy, but you can never have too many hands around the rim. 

"I'm gonna try and get as many rebounds as I can just to be able to give us more possessions or cut the other team's possessions," Thiero said. "I feel like I still have parts of my game that I can show and everything and I'm just gonna do whatever I can to help my team win."

Thiero continues to work on his craft, as the team prepares to take off for Toronto for the GLOBL JAM event next week, which will see the Cats take on older and talented teams from around the world. It will be BBN's first real look at what Calipari and his staff will be working with as they attempt to regain their stride. 

"I've just been working on my shot, playmaking, being able to attack the rim, finding open spots for the ball handler to hit me," Thiero said. Just being able to play hard, having that dog in me."

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UK's SEC opponents for the '23-24 season can be found here.

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