NBA Draft Scouting Report: Kentucky's Aaron Bradshaw

Scouting Report: Aaron Bradshaw

Contents

1. Prospect Profile 
2. Highlights 
3. Draft Projection 
4. 2024 Big Board 

Aaron Bradshaw 

Center | Kentucky 

Height: 7'0” | Weight: 215 lbs 

2024 Draft Age: 20.18 

Peter Ackerman-USA TODAY NETWORK

Prospect Profile 

A 7-footer built for the modern NBA, Bradshaw should be one of the top centers in the upcoming class. He’s older for a freshman and will be 20 years old on night of 2024 NBA Draft, but still is a clear first-round talent.

Bradshaw has ridiculously long arms which gives him a wide catch radius. He’s a lob threat at all times and having talented playmakers next to him is ideal. The skilled big man is a dual-threat as a screener in the pick and roll as he has the ability to be effective rolling to the rim or popping out to three. Regardless, he’s best in the paint where he likes to dunk anything he gets near the rim with authority.

He has a smooth jumper for his size and has no problem pulling up in mid-range. Although Bradshaw has the ability to space the floor and knock down triples, it will be interesting to see if that’s something he’s able to do in the Kentucky system. At the NBA level he will certainly be able to, and his quality free throw efficiency and fluid mechanics should bring optimism to his jumper translating.

Bradshaw isn’t a big-time creator or true scoring big quite yet as his handle is limited at his size and he isn’t a refined post scorer. Adding more moves to his arsenal down in the post would elevate his game entirely. Sometimes he tends to fall in love with the outside jumper a little too often which isn’t a terrible thing but at 7-feet you would like to see him utilize his size a little more in the interior. As of today he’s more of a play finisher, but has the tools to grow into more of a true offensive hub.

Defensively, Bradshaw is very mobile for his size and will be effective in multiple pick-and-roll coverages at the next level. He is an elite rim protector that has a great combination of size, length and defensive instincts. Out of the top prospects in the draft, the Kentucky big man is the best interior defending prospect available. Not only does he have the tools to be a special rim protector, but he also has the feel and awareness to protect the rim right away. It could come down to his ability to stay out of foul trouble.

Bradshaw needs to get stronger if he’s going to see consistent minutes at the center position in the NBA. He only weighs 210 pounds, but he‘a still very young so we anticipate him to gain strength and weight during his time at Kentucky. Adding strength will allow him to play more physically and compete more on the glass.

Centers that can play the 3-and-D role extremely valuable and actually difficult to find at times even in the modern NBA. With the Wildcats, he’ll have a real chance at being a one-and-done prospect while playing next to future NBA talents in DJ Wagner, Justin Edwards, Zvonimir Ivisic and Robert Dillingham among others. Although he could miss time early in the season with a foot injury, the expectation is that he fully heals and makes an impact at Kentucky this season. 

Highlights 

Draft Projection 

Mid to Late First-Round Pick in 2024 NBA Draft.

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2024 Big Board 

Want to know more about other potential 2024 NBA Draft prospects and where they might get selected? Check out our Draft Digest Big Board.

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