5-star Aaron Bradshaw wants to play the 4 at Kentucky

Aaron Bradshaw turned heads at the McDonald’s All-American Game when he openly discussed the possibility of playing the three or four at Kentucky. Sure, he stands 7-foot-1, but he’s skilled and wants to show it off.

“(John Calipari) said I’m going to have to guard guards if I’m going to be a guard,” Bradshaw told reporters. “Playing the three, four, I’m going to have to guard strong people, fast people. I’m going to have to be ready for that so I’m going to start now.” 

Playing the three? Well, that’s a stretch, no matter how well he can shoot. He’s a skilled big, not a big guard or wing. The four, though, is interesting. With Ugonna Onyenso returning to Kentucky as a true five, the minutes have to shake out somehow. And that’s not even accounting for the possibility of Oscar Tshiebwe returning for a third and final season in Lexington. He sure isn’t playing the four.

If you have to play a combination of those three on the floor together — certainly two for now with Onyenso and Bradshaw — there’s no question that the incoming freshman is the most versatile of the group. And Calipari addressed that specific possibility to open the offseason, saying the two bigs are complementary pieces on the floor.

“We may be able to play two 7-footers at one time because they’re both skilled,” Calipari said. “They both can shoot, both can shoot 15-footers (Onyenso), one can shoot threes (Bradshaw). So you can have two 7-footers that if you choose, you can play them together.”

See where we’re going with this?

Bradshaw was asked this week what position he hoped to play in Lexington, “more of a forward or just center?” The question came from a fan on Instagram.

His answer? “Wanna be the 4”

What does Bradshaw at the four look like? The 7-foot-1 signee described it at the McDonald’s All-American Game, at least the way he talked things over with Coach Cal.

“[Cal] told me I have to stretch the floor,” Bradshaw said. “I’m not the old-time big. I’m the new-time big. I like to stretch the floor. I like to shoot, dribble, all of it. He told me to stay consistent and be who you are.”

To become that stretch-four Calipari is looking for, the five-star prospect is hitting the film room, watching one former Wildcat in particular as he prepares for the next level. And then defensively, he’s watching the footwork of an all-time legend, while also dissecting the talents of arguably the best rebounder in the history of the NBA.

“People I really watch are Anthony Davis, Dennis Rodman and Dikembe Mutombo, actually,” Bradshaw said. “AD because he can shoot the three, dribble, post. Dikembe Mutombo just has crazy footwork. Watching his footwork is immaculate. With the defensive type of stuff, I thrive on defense. If I can shut you down, I’ll shut the whole team down. Shutting one person down, a point guard or a big, we’ll shut down the whole team.”

Anthony Davis on offense, Dikembe Mutombo on defense, Dennis Rodman on the glass? Call yourself whatever position you want at that point.

For now, though, he’s looking to call himself a true four.