There was a reason why Aaron Bradshaw thinks this year will be markedly different than his last.
In his unofficial Central Ohio debut, the Ohio State center showcased the all-around game he hopes to showcase with the Buckeyes after one year that fell short of expectations at Kentucky. The former top-five national prospect in the class of 2024 threw down a few dunks, sunk a 3-pointer and generally showed off a bouncy, smooth all-around game while playing for team 4DEEP in the Kingdom Summer League at Ohio Dominican University.
That wasn’t what gives the 7-1, 225-pound Bradshaw confidence in what is to come with the Buckeyes. It was more in the way he talked, the dance moves he showed off from 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’s quickly felt at home at his new program thanks to the efforts of coach Jake Diebler, associate head coach Joel Justus and the rest of the coaching staff.
Jun 30, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State forward Aaron Bradshaw, a Kentucky transfer, dunks during the Kingdom Summer League basketball program at Ohio Dominican University.
It’s been their approach, Bradshaw said, that is making a world of difference.
“I’ve got to thank every single one of them because they helped me throughout a long journey that I had to go through,” he said. “I was too in my head, so once I was able to talk with them and establish a plan with them, it’s about to be the best experience of my life.”
Too in his own head?
“I was thinking about a lot: school, home stuff and living every day,” he said. “That was probably the biggest struggle for me. I feel like I have a lot less on my shoulders and I’m more into it now, you feel me?”
Jun 30, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; From left, Aaron Bradshaw, CJ Penha and Dibaji Walker cheer on teammates during the Kingdom Summer League basketball program at Ohio Dominican University.
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, will be different – and then he showed why, smiling as he spoke.
“It’s going to impact (my game) as well, because you’ll see me smiling again,” he said. “Once Aaron starts smiling, that’s when it’s (on), you heard?”
In his Kingdom debut, Bradshaw showed his skills against a roster admittedly devoid of high-major college basketball experience. Teamed up with fellow Buckeye Bruce Thornton and pitted against teammate Kalen Etzler and former Ohio State guard Keyshawn Woods, Bradshaw scored 16 points in a 105-89 win and sat liberally as 4DEEP led by 31 points entering the fourth quarter.
Jun 30, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State forward Aaron Bradshaw, a Kentucky transfer, drives past his Buckeyes teammate Kalen Etzler during the Kingdom Summer League basketball program at Ohio Dominican University.
Bradshaw was 7 for 16 from the floor and 1 for 6 from 3-point range. His made 3-pointer came after he pulled down a defensive rebound, moved the ball up the court and took the shot.
“You’re going to see that a lot,” he said about 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 (going to) go back to me, go back to the old swag, you know? Back to the days where I was just chilling, ya feel me? That’s probably the best time 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 place when the coaching staff talked to him first about his grades and the academic component of Ohio State before getting into basketball talk.
“Once they talked about that first, that’s when they got me around their finger,” he said.
When Bradshaw committed, the Ohio State coaches envisioned teaming him with third-year center Felix Okpara, who had averaged 6.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game while playing in 35 games and starting 34. Within a week, Okpara transferred from the program after having publicly pledged to return roughly a month prior.
Bradshaw said he was looking forward to playing with Okpara, who has 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 to Felix. I hope he has fun in the SEC and I wish nothing but the blessings for him.”
Thornton finished with 10 points on 5-of-13 shooting and was 1 for 6 from 3-point range. He drove past his defender and finished at the rim in the final seconds of the second quarter to give his team a 58-50 lead at the half, 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 slam 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 off,” 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, King Kendrick shine in win
Northland guard King Kendrick did a lot of the early heavy lifting and Ohio State freshman wing Colin White closed with a flourish to lead team Bexley Car Care past Cincinnati 84-82 in the first game of the afternoon.
Kendrick, a point guard in the 2026 class 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 as he drove with 4:09 to play in the fourth quarter. Kendrick got up, hit the two free throws and subbed out 38 seconds later while limping and rubbing his back.
“I’m feeling good,” he said afterward. “I’ll be back by (Monday). I’ll take an ice bath and get right.”
Jun 30, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State freshman Colin White dunks during the Kingdom Summer League basketball program at Ohio Dominican University.
In his absence, White scored the final five points to give his team the victory. On the right wing, he took a pass, faked the 3-point attempt, took one dribble to his right as his defender flew past 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 hit both free throws.
Jun 30, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Northland junior King Kendrick drives to the basket during the Kingdom Summer League basketball program at Ohio Dominican University.
“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 is. To run down the court and make two free-throws to seal the game, it’s a pretty good feeling in your debut.”
White then switched onto multiple players, forcing one final off-balance 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 threw down a breakaway dunk, finished a reverse layup on a backdoor cut and sunk a mid-range jumper after faking a 3-point attempt.
“I think (the fans) got to see that obviously I can shoot the ball,” he said. “People are definitely afraid of that ability, but I can do a lot of other things. I can take it to the rim. I’m a little more athletic than people think. I think they got to see my full game. I do more than just shoot the ball.”
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Jun 30, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Former Ohio State guard Musa Jallow inbounds a ball during the Kingdom Summer League basketball program at Ohio Dominican University.
Musa Jallow, Wesson brothers team up
For three years, Musa Jallow, Andre Wesson and Kaleb Wesson were teammates at Ohio State. When Jallow and Kaleb Wesson arrived as freshman in 2017-18, Andre Wesson was starting his sophomore season with the Buckeyes.
Now, on team NWFG, they’ve been reunited. Sunday, they combined for 44 points in a 79-78 overtime loss to team Committed To My Craft 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 post buckets.
Kaleb Wesson had 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting, while Jallow had 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting as he works his way back into playing shape after playing 10 games at Charlotte in 2021-22 before injuries forced a premature end to his collegiate career.
Current Buckeyes Meechie Johnson, Sean Stewart, Devin Royal and John “Juni” Mobley Jr. were also in attendance throughout the afternoon but did not participate.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: At Kingdom Summer League, Ohio State’s Aaron Bradshaw shows off game
