‘Sky’s the limit’: Camden’s Aaron Bradshaw is one of the top centers in the country and keeps improving
Bradshaw is one of the top recruits in the nation, and the 7-footer between the dunks and blocked shots is making smart plays. Next comes his college choice.
Shawndel Bradshaw describes her son, Aaron, as a big goofball and a softy. Opposing teams saw a completely different side of him on the basketball court at Philly High School Live.
Aaron, who will be a senior at Camden High School in the fall, complements his ferocious interior presence with skilled footwork and an adeptness for tracking down rebounds. Both are qualities he has polished from a year ago, calling it a “spurt of talent.”
“His rapid improvement is remarkable. The way he’s improving rapidly like that, the sky’s the limit,” said former Villanova and 76ers guard Maalik Wayns, who coached the Panthers this weekend. “Everyday you see something new from him that surprises you or jumps off the page.”
Camden dismantled Archbishop Ryan on Friday evening, conquered Roman Catholic on Saturday, then squeaked out a win over Neumann Goretti on Sunday.
The 7-footer helped draw spectators for all three of the Panthers’ games at Thomas Jefferson University. In some cases, fans stood up on chairs from adjacent courts just to get a view of Bradshaw, who is ranked 20th by ESPN in the 2023 class, and DJ Wagner, who’s ranked No. 1.
“He makes the game a lot easier,” Wagner said. “He’s a hard worker and does a lot of smart things. He works hard so he makes things a lot easier for all of us … We’ve been playing together for a long time so it’s easy because we all know what we like to do.”
Bradshaw said his body and his shooting have been top priorities this spring. Both were on full display against local area big men Thomas Sorber, a class of 2024 forward from Archbishop Ryan; Anthony Finkley, a St. Joseph’s commit playing for Roman Catholic; and 2023 Neumann Goretti forward Sultan Adewale.
Camden’s consummate two-way player swatted shots into the stands and rattled the rim with two-handed dunks.
He scored 14 points, adding 16 rebounds (six offensive) and two blocks in Sunday’s matinee against the Saints — their toughest matchup of the weekend.
The North Jersey native transferred from Roselle Catholic after his freshman season looking to play with Wagner and point guard Cian Medley, who he shares the court with on AAU circuits for NJ Scholars. The process forced him to sit out his sophomore season.
“That just made him hungrier, the fact that he couldn’t play,” Shawndel said. “So he was working out just being dedicated on and off the court. I’m proud of him. On and off the court, he’s more confident and becoming a man.”
Bradshaw recently narrowed down his choices to Kentucky, UCLA, Michigan, Oklahoma State, Maryland, Louisville, and the NBA G League. His mom said they’re in no rush to make a decision.
His teammate also said he’s in no rush. But Wagner’s name has been closely associated with Louisville, which hired his grandfather, Milt, as director of player development, and Kentucky.
The last Camden alum to commit to John Calipari was Lance Ware, a rising junior at Kentucky. Camden native Kareem Watkins, DJ Wagner’s brother, is also a Kentucky walk-on guard.
» READ MORE: 24 hours in Louisville with Camden’s D.J. Wagner, the nation’s No. 1 recruit
“We’re just taking it all in and enjoying the process,” Shawndel said. “I tell him don’t make any rash decisions right now because there are a lot of schools out there. You have to find a school that fits you on and off the court.”
His senior season will take some adjusting. Three-year Camden coach Rick Brunson recently left his post for a spot on the New York Knicks’ coaching staff. Brunson’s replacement has yet to be named.
In the short term, Bradshaw has his eyes set next on the NBPA Top 100 Elite High School Basketball Camp at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla. From July 25-31, he’ll be matched up with 59 of the other best high school basketball players in the country.