NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing 7 team contenders for Kentucky transfer Ugonna Onyenso

Louisville Cardinals

New HC Pat Kelsey has been very busy in rebuilding the Cardinals roster, landing 12 newcomers to this point. In the past couple of days alone, the team landing top-50 forward prospect Khani Rooths, as well as South Florida transfer forward, Kasean Pryor. 

Another pickup was former BYU forward Aly Khalifa, who is already set to sit out next season. So unless either Pryor or Charleston forward James Scott can play big minutes at the five, there’s a clear need for another center. It’s an unproven situation for Onyenso to join but the ceiling is there and he could be the missing piece.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

With Jimmy Bell and Tolu Smith gone, there are definitely questions with the Bulldog’s frontcourt right now. They landed Miami transfer Michael Nwoko but he’s unproven and may just be a depth piece at the SEC level. Still, he’s the projected starter unless they add someone else.

Onyenso would be the starter at Mississippi State and Coach Chris Jans has shown he can develop bigs. The familiarity level for the Kentucky transfer could help here in this recruitment and with the backcourt duo of Kayne Clary and Josh Hubbard running the offense, Onyenso could be what pushes the Bulldogs towards the top of the league.