Ugonna Onyenso is entering the 2024 NBA Draft and plans to stay in it: Kentucky Basketball

Ugonna Onyenso is on her way to the pros.

On Monday, Onyenso declared for the 2024 NBA Draft and said his plan was to stay in it.

So it looks like Ugo's college career is over for now.

“I’m not thinking about coming back to play college basketball. “I’m 100% focused on the NBA,” he told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

Onyenso, a 4-star recruit in the Class of 2022, played in 16 games as a true freshman, averaging 2.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks while shooting 52.9% in 6.9 minutes per game. shot from the field.

When the 2023 offseason began, Onyenso actually announced his return to Kentucky after the team lost to Kansas State in the NCAA Tournament. However, Onyenso eventually exited the transfer portal, hoping to find a new school that offered an easier path to extending playing time and receiving more NIL money.

Ultimately, those offers never came and he returned to Kentucky for his sophomore year. It got off to a rocky start after he suffered a serious foot injury at the GLOBL Jam, which resulted in him needing surgery and missing the first month of the season.

Onyenso made his season debut in the CBS Sports Classic win over North Carolina and recorded three blocks, one point, one assist and one rebound in nine minutes of the 87-83 victory.

In 24 appearances (14 starts), Onyenso averaged 3.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in 18.8 minutes per game. He can't do much offensively outside of dunks, but his ability to protect the rim made him a valuable asset for a Kentucky team that was severely lacking on defense.

Good luck to Ugo as he enters the next phase of his basketball journey.

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