Ugonna Onyenso standing out to new assistant John Welch

Kentucky’s 2023-24 roster will be defined by freshmen, but so far, it’s the sophomores that are standing out to John Welch, the newest member of John Calipari’s staff. Welch, who joined the program in May, sat down with Keith Farmer of BBN Tonight late last week to share his thoughts on the Wildcats. One got a special mention from the longtime NBA assistant: 6’11” center Ugonna Onyenso.

“Ugo, I think I’ve been very impressed with, as young as he is,” Welch said. “He’s still 18 years old. I told him, I’ve worked with NBA players and there are not many at 18 that are as talented as he is. He’s going to improve a lot.”

Onyenso played sparingly as a freshman last season, averaging only 2.5 points and 2.6 rebounds in 6.9 minutes per game. He played 18 total minutes in SEC play, 11 of those coming in one game. With Oscar Tshiebwe, Daimion Collins, and Lance Ware all gone and freshman Aaron Bradshaw potentially missing the first part of the season due to a foot fracture, the inside is all Ugo’s. That’s an opportunity that Welch said the rising sophomore is seizing with the help of strength and conditioning coach Brady Welsh.

“He has gotten so much stronger in the weight room. I think that he and Adou [Thiero], you can see, have gained weight, gotten stronger, and that’s carried over to the court. The strength coach, Brady, has done a great job with them since last season.”

Last month, Welsh shared Onyenso’s progress in the weight room. So far, he’s packed on 12 pounds of muscle, lowered his body fat by 3.4%, and increased his vertical to 34″:

9 months of Discipline and Dedication. Proud of you! @OnyensoUgonna pic.twitter.com/zLgsIHAli3

— Braden Welsh (@B_Welsh11) May 4, 2023

Before coming back to campus for summer classes, Onyenso posted a highlight reel from his offseason training. That jumper’s looking pretty good.

Trusting the process💯 pic.twitter.com/IoVjgkHDVK

— Ugonna Kingsley Onyenso (@OnyensoUgonna) May 21, 2023

As for Thiero, his work in the weight room was also on display over the weekend in these photos Kentucky shared of the team greeting new freshman Joey Hart.

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“You’re going to see a big improvement from those two players”

If Antonio Reeves decides not to return to Kentucky for a final season, Onyenso and Thiero will be the most veteran of Kentucky’s rotational players. After working with them for only a few weeks, Welch is confident both will make the strides Kentucky needs them to this season.

“I find a lot of players in the NBA, it’s from their rookie to their sophomore season that they really improve. It’s hard to get them the first year and I think it’s the same thing with freshmen. But if they stay that second year, you have the whole spring and summer, that’s where they make that big jump. And I think from what they’ve done this offseason with the coaches and the strength coach, you’re going to see a big improvement from those two players.”

As for the rest of the team, which is still being assembled, Welch didn’t share many specifics but said he’s impressed by their attitude and work ethic thus far.

“Just the passion for the game. They’re constantly wanting to come back to the gym and work more and do more things. I think we have a group that, again, enjoys basketball, that wants to prove that even though they’re young, they can be successful and win games. That’s what I feel from our players.”

To hear more from Welch, who worked with DeMarcus Cousins, Willie Cauley-Stein, and Rajon Rondo during his nearly 20-year stint in the NBA, watch the complete interview with BBN Tonight.