Aaron Bradshaw shows versatile game and talks about Ohio State’s change in Kingdom Summer League

There’s a reason Aaron Bradshaw thinks this year will be markedly different than the last.

In his unofficial Central Ohio debut, the Ohio State Center showcased the versatile game he hopes to showcase with the Buckeyes after a year that fell short of expectations at Kentucky. The former national champion in the Class of 2024 hit a couple of dunks, hit a 3-pointer and generally displayed a smooth, versatile game while playing for the 4DEEP team in the Kingdom Summer League at Ohio Dominican University.

That’s not what gave the 7-1, 225-pound Bradshaw confidence in what’s to come with the Buckeyes. It was more in the way he spoke, the dance moves he displayed on the bench and the demeanor he brought with him. In his first public comments since leaving Kentucky and signing with Ohio State, Bradshaw said he quickly felt at home in his new program thanks to the efforts of head coach Jake Diebler, associate head coach Joel Justus and the rest of the coaching staff.

It’s been their approach, Bradshaw said, that’s making a big difference.

“I have to thank each and every one of them because they helped me during the long journey I had to go through,” he said. “I was very confused, so when I was able to talk to them and come up with a plan with them, this will be the best experience of my life.”

Also in your own head?

“I was thinking a lot: school, home stuff and living every day,” he said. “That was probably the biggest fight for me. I feel like I have a lot less on my shoulders and I’m more interested in it now, do you feel me?

As a freshman, Bradshaw averaged 4.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game while appearing in 26 games, including 10 starts. His start to the season was delayed by a foot injury that prevented him from having a full preseason to prepare for college basketball, and the result was a season that left Bradshaw wanting.

This time, he said, it will be different – ​​and then showed why, smiling as he spoke.

“It will also have an impact (on my game) because you will see me smiling again,” he said. “As soon as Aaron starts smiling, that’s when he’s on, you hear?”

In his Kingdom debut, Bradshaw showcased his skills against a squad admittedly devoid of major college basketball experience. Teamed with fellow Buckeye Bruce Thornton and faced teammate Kalen Etzler and former Ohio State guard Keyshawn Woods, Bradshaw scored 16 points in a 105-89 victory and sat liberally as 4DEEP led by 31 points in the fourth quarter.

Bradshaw was 7-for-16 from the floor and 1-for-6 from 3-point range. His 3-pointer came after he grabbed a defensive rebound, moved the ball down the court and shot.

“You’re going to see that a lot,” he said of stretching the floor. “Don’t worry about that. You’re going to see that a lot.”

Asked what fans will see from him this season, Bradshaw said: “It looks good, you feel me? Finna (will) come back to me, go back to the old ways, you know? Back to the days when I was just chilling, do you feel me? That was probably the best moment I had.”

Bradshaw said he entered the transfer portal hoping to find a school with a good environment and a good coaching staff “that understands me for who I am.” He felt the Buckeyes offered that spot when the coaching staff talked to him first about his grades and the academic component of Ohio State before starting to talk about basketball.

“After they first talked about it, that’s when they got me,” he said.

When Bradshaw committed, Ohio State coaches envisioned pairing him with third-year center Felix Okpara, who averaged 6.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game, playing in 35 games and being a starter in 34. Within a week, Okpara was transferred from the program. after having publicly promised to return about a month earlier.

Bradshaw said he was looking forward to playing with Okpara, who transferred to Tennessee.

“Of course, it was like playing with another me,” he said. “Fe could do everything I could do: pass, shoot. All love still for Felix. I hope he has fun in the SEC and I wish him nothing but blessings.”

Thornton finished with 10 points on 5-of-13 shooting and was 1-of-6 from 3-point range. He got past his defender and finished at the rim in the final seconds of the second quarter to give his team a 58-50 halftime lead, then opened the second half with a step-back 3-pointer.

Thornton also hit Bradshaw with a behind-the-back pass that led to a dunk.

“Bruce is a really good floor general and I feel like he’s one of those guys that’s going to have one of those years where he just goes away,” Bradshaw said.

Woods finished with 7 points and was 3-for-9 from the floor, missing all four of his 3-point attempts. He will play for Carmen’s Crew in the Basketball Tournament. Etzler had 3 points and was 1-for-5 from the floor and 1-for-4 from beyond the arc.

Colin White and King Kendrick shine in victory

Northland guard King Kendrick did much of the early heavy lifting and Ohio State freshman guard Colin White closed strong to lead the Bexley Car Care team over Cincinnati 84-82 in the afternoon’s first game.

Kendrick, a Class of 2026 point guard who just participated in the Nike Elite 100 camp held June 23-27 in St. Louis, Missouri, scored 29 points before leaving after injuring his lower back on a hard foul while drove with 4:09 to play in the fourth quarter. Kendrick got up, made both free throws and was replaced 38 seconds later while limping and rubbing his back.

“I’m feeling good,” he said afterward. “I’ll be back (Monday). I’m going to take a cold shower and recover.

In his absence, White scored the final five points to give his team the victory. On the right wing, he made a pass, faked the 3-point attempt, took a dribble to the right as his defender flew by, and then buried the open shot to tie the game at 82. And with 27.3 seconds left, he chased down a loose ball deep in the backcourt, drew the foul and made both free throws.

“Just go get it and make a play,” he said of his thought process on that sequence. “That’s how I’m wired, is to make a play no matter how big the moment. Running down the court and scoring two free throws to close out the game is a great feeling on your debut.”

White then switched to multiple players, forcing an off-balance final shot from Cincinnati that sealed the final score. He finished with 20 points and was 7-for-15 from the floor and 3-for-9 from 3-point range. He also sank a dunk, finished a reverse layup on a backdoor cut and hit a mid-range jumper after faking a 3-point attempt.

“I think (the fans) realized that I can obviously shoot the ball,” he said. “People are definitely scared of this ability, but I can do a lot of other things. I can take you to the edge. I’m a little more athletic than people think. I think they got to see my complete game. I do more than just shoot the ball.”

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Musa Jallow and Wesson brothers unite

For three years, Musa Jallow, Andre Wesson and Kaleb Wesson were teammates at Ohio State. When Jallow and Kaleb Wesson arrived as freshmen in 2017-18, Andre Wesson was beginning his second season with the Buckeyes.

Now, on the NWFG team, they have reunited. Sunday, they scored 44 points in a 79-78 overtime loss to the Committed To My Craft team in the second game of the afternoon. Andre Wesson led the three in scoring, finishing with 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting and also assisted on two Kaleb Wesson posts.

Kaleb Wesson had 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting, while Jallow had 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting as he returned to form after playing 10 games at Charlotte in 2021-22 before injuries forced a premature end to his college career.

Current Buckeyes Meechie Johnson, Sean Stewart, Devin Royal and John “Juni” Mobley Jr. were also present during the afternoon, but did not participate.

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This article originally appeared in The Columbus Dispatch: At Kingdom Summer League, Ohio State’s Aaron Bradshaw shows off the game