5-star Aaron Bradshaw talks Kentucky, Louisville and upcoming visits

This time a few weeks ago, it appeared five-star big man Aaron Bradshaw was nearing a college decision. The 7-foot-1 center out of Camden (NJ) made official visits to Kentucky and Louisville in the month of June, and it appeared the Wildcats were carrying the majority of the momentum. 

A decision seemed imminent but one never came. Bradshaw decided to pump the breaks, delaying his commitment.

Bradshaw delays decision

“I wanted to explore my options a little bit more,” Bradshaw said to On3 at Peach Jam. “There’s always something new and there is always a different opportunity for me, so I can’t just key in on one thing. I gotta explore my options.

“I was keying in on one thing and I felt like I was a little biased and I shouldn’t be as biased about it and just explore my options.”

Bradshaw is in the process of setting up visits to two more schools – UCLA and Texas. 

UCLA and Texas to host the 7-footer next

What stands out to him about both programs? 

UCLA: “I like their facilities. I like how they work out. They work out real strong and hard. That’s another thing I look at. I’ve been talking to the head coach (Mick Cronin). They want to play me on the wing.”

Texas: “They’ve been saying a lot of Kevin Durant, Jarrett Allen, LaMarcus Aldridge type of things, about my type of build, and who I am.”

When Bradshaw released his top seven in May, the G-League Ignite was included. He confirmed to me that Ignite program has not offered him a contract yet, but they are interested. 

Prior to exploring his other options, Bradshaw was mainly looking at Louisville and Kentucky. He broke down what stands out about the ‘Cards and the ‘Cats.

Louisville: “Everybody is really close. You can tell that they talk to each other every day and you can tell they actually care about each other. That’s the type of thing I look for.”

Kentucky: “The same thing (as Louisville). Like literally, it’s the same thing. I can’t really decide. That’s why it’s so hard.”

Scouting Summary

Aaron Bradshaw has a long and lean frame. A legit 7-foot-0, there is a lot of skill involved in Bradshaw’s success. He is a smooth shooter off the catch with range extending out to the three-point line. He cuts hard off the ball and can knock down elbow jumpers off the catch. Bradshaw can attack in straight lines off one and two dribbles. Bradshaw is stiff in the hips, and his lower body leads to questions about his ability to open up and move laterally. He will need to add significant strength to his core and lower body. There is a lot of vertical pop; Bradshaw is a vertical spacing threat from the dunker spots and as a rim runner. Despite the thin frame, he is willing to stick his nose into the mix at the rim. He rebounds with two hands and is a natural shot blocker. Bradshaw is trending as a top three or four center in his class. – On3’s Jamie Shaw, National Recruiting Analyst