NCAA Basketball: Impact of Kentucky landing 5-star big Aaron Bradshaw
How the other three programs move on from this defeat
Besides the NBA G League, three other teams missed out on Aaron Bradshaw. Here’s where each of them go from here after losing out.
Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns are in clear need of some frontcourt additions in the 2023 class. Starting center Christian Bishop is gone after this year, with there not being too much depth behind him outside of backup forward, Dylan Disu. The team is currently after the top two remaining bigs in the class in five-star center Baye Fall and top-40 prospect, Isaiah Miranda. If they can’t land either, look for them to be active in the transfer portal to find an impact frontcourt player.
USC Trojans
USC is also after Miranda, who has them as one of his reported finalists. Their frontcourt situation went from being in strong standing to now in question, as five-star freshman center Vincent Iwuchukwu suffered a heart-related issue and is out indefinitely. If he’s not able to get clear, the program will have to find another center in the 2023 class. They recently landed top-100 forward Arrinten Page, who can play the five-spot in case they aren’t able to find someone else.
Louisville Cardinals
Of these three teams, the Cardinals were the one that could most afford to not land the big man from a roster standpoint. They landed former top-25 prospect Brandon Huntley-Hatfield in the transfer portal this offseason from Tennessee, while still having Sydney Curry and Roosevelt Wheeler as well. Plus, they too are in the Miranda sweepstakes.
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But the blow of losing to Kentucky on the recruiting trail, combined with the fact that they’re likely losing out on Wagner is tough on a new coaching staff that was betting on having a massive 2023 class. They still have a pair of top-100 wing commits in Curtis Williams and Kaleb Glenn but it’s a far cry from potentially landing Wagner and Bradshaw.