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LOOK: Adou Thiero pushing toward 46-inch vertical

Jack PIlgrimby:Jack Pilgrim06/04/23
Adou thiero
Photo by Dr. Michael Huang | Kentucky Sports Radio

There’s not a bigger wildcard on the Kentucky basketball roster than soon-to-be sophomore Adou Thiero. It’s not just about his ability or potential, but just the unknown of what he is as a basketball player.

Officially listed at 6-6, 200 pounds as a freshman, doctors told the Leetsdale, PA native he still had “three to five inches left” of growth in him, he said last summer. Back for year two in Lexington, Thiero may not have seen the five-inch growth spurt fans were hoping for, but early pictures indicate he still sprouted up a touch — maybe an inch or so?

That’s the excitement in Thiero’s long-term future as a Wildcat. He signed on as a combo guard prospect out of high school, but John Calipari experimented with him as a small-ball four at times in his debut season, looking for ways to utilize his unique physical tools as a long, strong mismatch piece. He would go on to average 2.3 points and 1.9 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per contest.

What position will he play as a sophomore? And what does his potential look like moving forward?

Or how about a new one: would a 46-inch vertical complicate things?

That’s right, 46 inches. Thiero has been building toward that goal this offseason, working with Jason Jerome of the Pittsburgh Penguins — he’s the NHL franchise’s Director of Performance Training — to improve his physical testing.

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For those keeping track at home, the NBA record for best vertical leap at the Draft Combine is 48.0 inches, set by former Tennessee wing Keon Johnson.

And it’s not just about physical development for Thiero this offseason; he’s also been working on his craft as a pure shooter. His father, Almamy Thiero, shared some footage of his son on social media this past week:

What are your expectations for Thiero in year two? Is he on breakthrough watch as a sophomore?

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