Adou Thiero breaks down growth over past season, added versatility

Although he has played a season for the Wildcats already, Adou Thiero continues to be a mystery for those who follow Kentucky. The guard out of Pennsylvania has continued to grow, both in height and weight, over his time in Lexington in a way that has made it difficult to define what he is, or what he can be, for the Wildcats.

Still, Thiero recognizes what the changes in his body have done for his game. While speaking to the media last week, he said that he didn’t realize just how strong he had become. Now, while he prefers to maintain this level of strength rather than add any more muscle, he wants to use it to the best of his ability out on the court.

“I didn’t really realize, like, how strong I was getting until people started pointing it out. And then that’s when I realized, like, I’m just getting a lot stronger,” Thiero said. “So I think it’s just really helped my game a lot.”

“(But) I don’t want to get stronger anymore. Like, I just want to stay like this, maintain this strength,” added Thiero.

As far as this upcoming season, Thiero sees it more as a defensive advantage. He thinks he’ll be able to provide a lot of versatility on that end because of his ability to switch around and guard multiple positions.

“I think it will help me guard multiple positions and just be a good defender all around. To be able to guard the one, two, three, four. And, if I’ve got to switch on to the five, I’ll be able to guard him for a little bit.”

Thiero averaged 2.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.5 steals per game in just under 10 minutes a night in 20 appearances as a freshman.

However, it’s the potential that continues to interest those in the bluegrass. His body has continued to morph in his time with the program to the point where, heading into his sophomore season, Thiero’s raw game, both in size and in skill set, could be a peg that fits in several holes within the Wildcat lineup.

Calipari discusses growth of Adou Thiero

As of three weeks ago, Kentucky had just two non-freshmen on their basketball team in rising sophomores Adou Thiero and Ugonna Onyenso. Thiero and Onyenso have to take big leaps and contribute much more than they did as freshmen.

John Calipari shared the exciting update on Thiero as part of his recent press conference. He revealed that Thiero may still be growing. When he did play, though, his bulldog approach and physicality really showed through and, this offseason, he’s only further bulked up.

“You have Adou, who’s looking more and more physically like his dad, who I coached. He’s probably near 6’7 now and he could play multiple positions, probably three and four.”

That’s a big admission from Calipari that Thiero could play the four. If has taken another step physically, he is capable of playing the four as a versatile piece for the ‘Cats. Don’t sleep on him eventually taking that spot, if we’re to believe these rave reviews:

“But he’s way more confident,” continued Cal. “So yes, he’s better, he’s living in the gym. He learned from a year ago you have to spend time at this, it doesn’t just happen. It’s not just games, it’s about the preparation. So he’s been great, yes.”