NBA Draft Scouting Report: Kentucky's Ugonna Onyenso

Scouting Report: Ugonna Onyenso

Contents

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

Ugonna Onyenso

Forward | Kentucky

Height: 6'11” | Weight: 225 lbs

2024 Draft Age: 19.74

Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Prospect Profile

Onyenso is a very young prospect after re-classifying in high school and will be 19 at the time of the 2024 NBA Draft despite having played two college seasons. He didn’t play much as a freshman at Kentucky, but was extremely effective in limited action. He averaged 2.6 blocks and a rebound in less than seven minutes per game. With the potential of having a breakout sophomore campaign, he will need to carve out a role early on.

With extremely long arms and a high motor, Onyenso is seemingly all over the court. He covers a ton of space and is a really good athlete for his size. He moves well and is very effective in tradition. He’s a lob threat in those settings, but is also mobile for a forward in halfcourt sets. The Kentucky prospect can play either the center or power forward positions depending on the matchup.

The defensive upside is tremendous for Onyenso, projecting to be an elite rim protector and a monster on the defensive glass. He has the length to be disruptive in passing lanes and the timing, pop and instincts to block a ton of shots. The real question is what he’ll be able to do offensively.

He hasn’t really had a chance to show it, but Onyenso does have tools to step out and shoot jumpers. However, to this point in his college career he has mostly scored on putbacks and easy dunks. What he’s able to showcase offensively this season will be a swing skill as it relates to his draft stock. He will need to get stronger to reach his ceiling on both ends, but will make up for it with his athleticism in the meantime.

A huge recruit coming into college, Onyenso was a standout performer at NBA Academy Games in the summer of 2022. Furthermore, he became one of the youngest players ever to make the senior men’s Nigerian National Team at 17 years old, proving just how much talent and potential he has.

In his sophomore season with the Wildcats, he will need to shift from a player with potential to one that produces if he wants to climb draft boards ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft. 

Highlights

Draft Projection

Second-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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