After initially being very sure about his intention to turn pro, Ugonna Onyenso is going to keep his college options open.
According to Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68, Onyenso will enter the transfer portal after playing two seasons at the University of Kentucky.
The sophomore forward told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony earlier this month he was declaring for the 2024 NBA draft and was “not thinking about coming back to play college basketball.”
Onyenso’s initial decision to turn pro came on April 15, six days after John Calipari confirmed he was leaving Kentucky to become the head coach at Arkansas.
The 19-year-old Onyenso was part of the Wildcats’ 2022 recruiting class that was ranked as the third-best in the nation, per 247Sports’ composite rankings. He was a 4-star prospect and ninth-ranked center.
After playing sparingly as a freshman, Onyenso took on a more prominent role last season. He averaged 3.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game in 24 appearances (14 starts).
B/R’s Jonathan Wasserman didn’t have Onyenso included in his most recent mock draft.
When Onyenso originally committed to Kentucky in August 2022, he was also considering Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Tennessee.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Onyenso decides to follow Calipari to Arkansas. The Razorbacks have already landed Zvonimir Ivisic from the transfer portal after he spent last season with Kentucky.
Onyenso also has the ability to explore various schools that will be intrigued by the possibility of adding a seven-footer with a wingspan of 7’5″ who showed tremendous shot-blocking ability last season.
It’s also possible Onyenso gets positive feedback from NBA teams and elects to remain in the draft.
There’s plenty of time for Onyenso to go through the process before making a decision. The deadline for players to withdraw from the draft and maintain their college eligibility is May 29.
