The Detroit Pistons drafted Ugonna Onyenso in the second-round of the NBA Draft, and he’s already made a positive impression on the organization during Summer League
When the first day of the 2026 NBA Draft began, the Detroit Pistons did not own a second-round draft pick at the time, so their willingness to move into the latter stages of the draft in order to select Virginia center Ugonna Onyenso showed that the Motown squad believed in what the player known as “Ugo” could offer to their team.
In college, Onyenso made waves from the simple fact that he had the timing and instincts to block shots better than virtually any other player in the college game. Last season, Onyenso averaged 2.9 blocks per game, so his rim protection and interior defense as a 7-footer was on another level when compared to most of his contemporaries.
According to Virginia head coach Ryan Odom, defending the paint is one of Onyenso’s shining attributes, but it is far from the only component that he will add to the Pistons once he settles into the Motor City.
”I do know that Ugo is a good player,” Odom said after the draft. “If you want someone that can protect your basket, protect the rim but also guard out on the perimeter at the same time and guard multiple positions, he’s your guy. And if you want someone that has room for growth on offense, and I say that in a very positive way because he’s grown since we’ve got him in one year at UVA.”
In terms of that offensive growth, Odom is referring to Onyenso’s underrated ability to knock down shots from the perimeter as a big man. In fact, that’s a quality that Onyenso has already displayed during Summer League by sinking a pair of three-pointers in that five-game stretch, which underscores the statements made by his collegiate coach.
“He had never attempted a three in a practice going into the season last year,” Odom said. “I’m talking about his previous stops, so you know he had never attempted one in a game, so you go from that to all of a sudden making a few big ones over the course of the season for us, it tells you that there’s room for him to expand his game. He doesn’t have illusions of being somebody he’s not, but all players want to get better and they want to be at a place they feel like their coaches are going to work with them to help them do that. I know they do that in Detroit. They develop guys.”
As far as development goes, Onyenso is still a raw prospect from an offensive standpoint, but he has the ability and work ethic to continue improving with the Pistons after signing a two-year deal. One area that he will have to work on adjusting to, however, is the pace of professional hoops after spending several years in the college ranks.
“The speed of the game,” Odom said. “Anytime you’re going to that level, you’re playing with other guys who have been doing this a long time, who are professionals in how they handle themselves. Ugo is a pro from that perspective. He’s very focused and very driven. He’s a hard worker, takes care of his body and he pays attention to scouting and what he needs to do there in terms of his preparations, so from that perspective he’ll be fine. I think just being on the court with guys he’s watched on TV for a long time, he’s going to be like a sponge and he’ll be excited to learn from their coaching staff. I know they’re going to teach him a great deal. I’m looking forward to seeing him in a Pistons uniform.”
Odom mentioned that he has a lot of respect for Pistons President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon and the work that he’s done in Detroit already, which has further strengthened his confidence that Onyenso will have the opportunity to grow and reach his potential in due time with the Pistons.
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