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Kentucky basketball: 3 Hunter Dickinson backup plans for John Calipari

By Drew Koch

Dec 4, 2022; London, ENG; Michigan Wolverines center Hunter Dickinson (1) gestures during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats at The O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2022; London, ENG; Michigan Wolverines center Hunter Dickinson (1) gestures during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats at The O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kentucky basketball
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 23: Ugonna Onyenso #33 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball in the game against the North Florida Ospreys at Rupp Arena on November 23, 2022 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Kentucky basketball missed out on Hunter Dickinson. Who might coach John Calipari target in order to fill the void in the front court?

Okay, Big Blue Nation, former University of Michigan big man Hunter Dickinson is headed to play for head coach Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks. While that’s not exactly the news that Kentucky basketball fans wanted to hear, all hope is not yet lost.

The Kentucky Wildcats were bounced in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and head coach John Calipari knows that his team has to be better during the upcoming 2023-24 season. Thankfully, Coach Cal has the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation. However, that hasn’t always yielded success.

So, with Dickinson now of the board, where will Calipari turn next? The UK coach does a few backup options.

Kentucky basketball: John Calipari could turn to returning forward Ugonna Onyenso

While Hunter Dickinson choosing Kansas over Kentucky was not the news Coach Cal was hoping for, UK did get some news last month when big man Ugonna Oneynso announced that he was returning to the Wildcats next season.

Big Blue Nation didn’t get a long look at Onyenso last season with returning National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe occupying the middle on a nightly basis. Onyenso played in just 16 games for the Wildcats in 2022-23 and averaged only 6.9 minutes.

But the talent is there. John Calipari firmly believes that Onyenso can be the best big man in the country if given the opportunity. Hunter Dickinson clearly would have taken playing time away from Onyenso, so this could be addition by subtraction.

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