Aaron Bradshaw named SEC Freshman of the Week

For the fifth time already this season, a Kentucky Wildcat has been tabbed as the Southeastern Conference’s Freshman of the Week.

This time around, it’s 7-foot-1 center Aaron Bradshaw, who only played one game last week but was arguably the most important player in Kentucky’s thrilling 87-85 road win over Florida on Saturday. In just his sixth college game, Bradshaw went for 10 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and one block in 25 minutes for the Wildcats. All 10 of his points came in the final 9:10 of the contest.

Bradshaw hit two of the biggest shots of the game down the stretch for Kentucky, including the go-ahead three-pointer with under 90 seconds left that put the ‘Cats in front for good. That clutch shot was preceded by a spectacular block the possession prior that forced Florida into a turnover.

The SEC announced Bradshaw as the winner on Monday afternoon. LSU’s Jordan Wright and South Carolina’s Meechie Johnson were named SEC Co-Player of the Week.

Under head coach John Calipari, Kentucky has now earned more weekly SEC awards (130) than any other school — 99 SEC Freshman of the Week and 31 SEC Player of the Week. Bradshaw joins DJ Wagner and Reed Sheppard — who have both won the award twice — as other Wildcats to take home SEC Freshman of the Week this season.

On the season (six games played, four as a starter), Bradshaw is averaging 7.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 20.5 minutes per outing. He’s shooting 53.1 percent from the floor and is 3-5 from beyond the arc. The rookie big man has topped double-digit scoring numbers in three of his six games played.

Bradshaw and the rest of his Kentucky teammates will be in action again on Tuesday when the Wildcats host Missouri at 7:00 p.m. EST on ESPN inside Rupp Arena.