LEXINGTON, Ky. – January 8, 2024
Kentucky men’s basketball freshman forward Aaron Bradshaw was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week on Monday. Bradshaw aided UK’s come-from-behind win with a block and a go-ahead 3-pointer on the ensuing possession with 1:27 remaining to lift the Wildcats to a road win at Florida on Saturday.
UK has won more weekly SEC honors (130) than any other school during the John Calipari era, including 99 SEC Freshman of the Week awards and 31 SEC Player of the Week honors. Bradshaw is the third different UK freshmen to win the award this season. Both Reed Sheppard and D.J. Wagner have each captured the honor twice.
Bradshaw scored 10 points, all coming in the final 9:05 of the game, while adding seven rebounds, two steals and a block in the 87-85 victory. Tied at 76 with less than two minutes remaining, he finalized a shot-clock violation by blocking a Gator shot. On the ensuing possession, he put Kentucky in the lead for good with a 3-pointer to help the Cats overcome an 11-point deficit and lift UK to its first win in league play on the road. The 10 points were the most for Bradshaw since scoring 12 against North Carolina and his seven boards were the most snared since corralling 11 against Penn.
For the season, Bradshaw is averaging 7.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He’s topped double figure scoring three times and has at least one block in all but one of his six appearances on the season.
Kentucky returns to action on Tuesday as UK hosts Missouri. Game time is set for 7 p.m. ET with the game airing on ESPN.