Ugonna Onyenso shares his feelings on being a leader for Kentucky

With Oscar Tshiebwe gone, Kentucky is in desperate need of a new leader down low. UK sophomore Ugonna Onyenso is ready fill that role.

“It’s a little bit to take in. As time goes by, you feel more confident in what you’re doing and being present for [the freshmen]. Telling them, showing them. Being in this position before, telling how things work around here; how to go about things,” Onyenso told the media on Thursday.

The 6-foot-11 sophomore has a year at Kentucky under his belt, but he wasn’t consistently on the floor. Onyenso played in just 16 of Kentucky’s 34 games last season. In his scarce minutes, he averaged 2.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and a block per outing.

Nonetheless, Onyenso’s potential was undeniable. The lanky rim protector was a headache for opponents in the paint, racking up seven blocks in his first two appearances of the season. It’s not a surprise considering Onyenso’s vast 7-foot-5 wingspan.

Kentucky fans expect Onyenso to have many more opportunities to use his freakish athletic abilities on the hardwood this season. Onyenso feels like he can provide more than shot-blocking to the Cats.

“I feel as time goes by, [I’m] being more confident and taking the leadership position,” Onyenso said.

If a recent Kentucky team ever needed some veteran leadership, it’s this one. The Cats boast seven freshmen, including three five-star recruits. While the roster reminds many fans of better days, they are quick to forget the pitfalls of such a young roster.

Young teams often take lumps early in the season. If the Cats aren’t careful, those bumps in the road could throw them far from their intended destination. Luckily for UK diehards, Calipari seemingly calculated for this risk.

The 64-year-old head coach is taking his team to GLOBL JAM to battle in a trio of exhibition games in Toronto against teams from Canada, Germany and Africa to gain much-needed experience. If Kentucky’s youthful group exceeds expectations, they will play again in a medal game June 16.

That young crew of Cats nearly excluded Onyenso earlier this offseason after the UK center entered the transfer portal on April 5. According to KSR’s Jack Pilgrim, the decision “was a NIL-driven decision from his camp, hoping to cash in on the standout defender’s potential with lucrative promises from other interested parties.”

Thankfully for Kentucky, the Cats gave him an offer he couldn’t refuse. The big man announced his intent to return to UK on April 12. Onyenso and Kentucky will face off in their GLOBL JAM contest at 8 p.m. ET on July 12.