BREAKING: Ugonna Onyenso announces return to Kentucky

The first major domino of the Kentucky basketball offseason has fallen, a real step toward figuring out what the roster will look like in 2023-24.

Ugonna Onyenso, the program’s prized long-term project piece with unlimited defensive upside, is returning to Lexington for his sophomore campaign. The decision comes after entering the transfer portal back on April 5, ultimately deciding to withdraw a week later on April 12.

He announced his decision to return on Wednesday.

“BBN, I’m back and looking forward to chasing my dream of winning a national championship with my brothers! Go Cats!”

I’m back! pic.twitter.com/TQnlXlF584

— Ugonna Kingsley Onyenso (@OnyensoUgonna) April 12, 2023

Playing just 6.9 minutes per contest as a freshman, the 6-foot-11 center averaged 2.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks — a short-spurt impact piece, specifically early in the season. He saw just 18 total minutes in SEC play, zero in the SEC and NCAA Tournaments. His early opportunities, though, were productive, recording six points, four rebounds and four blocks in 20 minutes vs. Howard, nine points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in 19 minutes vs. Duquesne, six points, four rebounds and three blocks vs. South Carolina State, then seven points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in 18 minutes vs. North Florida. His best outing against name-brand competition came against Michigan in London, going for four points, two rebounds and two blocks in seven minutes.

Then came the offseason, one that started with the native of Owerri, Nigeria making it clear he would be coming back for his sophomore season.

“I gotta go back and start getting ready for next season because I won’t have Oscar, probably won’t have Jacob around,” Onyenso said after Kentucky’s loss to Kansas State in the NCAA Tournament. “I need to let myself know that that’s a position I need to fill in and the things they didn’t achieve, I’m working on achieving it for them. Doing it for them. I’m just gonna work.“

John Calipari penciled him in alongside five-star signee Aaron Bradshaw, dreaming of a twin-towers lineup — “We may be able to play two seven-footers at one time because they’re both skilled.” And in the same breath, he said Onyenso was “going to end up being special.”

That was after the Kentucky head coach said his “gut is (Onyenso) will be the best big guy, if not one of the best big guys in the country next year.”

Then, the former blue-chip recruit entered the portal, a complicated move unfortunately beyond Onyenso’s control. It 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. Suitors lined up and there was clear intrigue in his talent, but the financial guarantees never followed as those around him had hoped.

As for Onyenso himself, his heart was always in Lexington and made it clear he wanted to be back for year two from the beginning. He trusts John Calipari’s vision and the growth he saw as a freshman, along with the relationships he built around the program. And, respectfully, he earned six figures this past season through NIL, despite being on an F1 student visa and playing less than seven minutes per game — he’s doing just fine.

Reclassifying from the class of 2023, it was always about the long game for Onyenso personally, specifically in Lexington. And despite some internal pushback within his camp to the point of officially exploring his options in the portal, the freshman center ultimately got what he wanted all along: a second run as a Wildcat.

Onyenso was rated as the No. 18 overall prospect and No. 3 center in the final On3 player rankings for 2022. Prior to reclassifying, he was seen as the best shot-blocking talent in his age group — and potentially all of high school basketball.

Now, Kentucky gets another crack at unlocking his potential and turning it into production.

Welcome back, Ugo.