Aaron Bradshaw

Aaron Bradshaw was viewed as the top center prospect in the national class of 2023. He was 7-feet plus, mobile, and athletic with good hands, a soft touch that extended out to the three-point line, and shot-blocking ability. Production didn’t always live up to his potential though, with his motor and physicality both being clear works-in-progress during his high school years.

It was more of the same this year at Kentucky, especially after his transition to the college game was impeded by an injury that cost him the first few weeks of the season. While he made an immediate impact upon returning in early December, he saw his role diminish as the season went on. He finished the season averaging just 4.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 13.8 minutes per night.

While there is unfortunately now a pattern of underachieving, what is debatable is how much of that is contextual, after playing on teams built around DJ Wagner throughout high school. What remains undeniable is that Bradshaw’s ceiling remains high if he ever fully commits himself to maximizing his potential. There just aren’t many seven-footers who can space the floor vertically and with their shooting while simultaneously being able to protect the rim and move their feet laterally.

Bradshaw has elite tools for a developing modern day big with size, mobility, fluidity, multiple bounces, good hands, use of his left, signs of a budding jump hook, a high release in the lane, and a very soft touch that extends out to the arc. He’s also one of the best rim protectors in the country. His motor, which was a concern as an underclassman, has made consistent strides over the years. Physically, he has high and narrow shoulders on a frame that needs to bulk up in order to hold his position on both ends of the floor. He can struggle to plant and pivot when asked to reverse the ball as a trailer, lacks a reliable niche to his individual offense (although he’s yet to be showcased as a team’s primary option), and seems to have questionable awareness at times. He puts up good rebounding numbers and shows flashes of getting balls above the rim, but has other moments when he relies on his length instead of truly going to get the ball. While the consistency of his motor and overall productivity are still works in progress, they’re clearly trending in the right direction. Long-term, his upside is as a 7-footer who can stretch the floor vertically and to the arc, be a rim-runner, and versatile defender who both protects the rim and can move his feet on the perimeter. While that’s a best scenario, it isn’t in the range of possible outcomes for most bigs in the class.