Wenyen Gabriel

Gabriel was born March 26, 1997 in Khartoum, Sudan. After moving to the United States, he played his first three high school seasons at Trinity High School in New Hampshire. For his senior year, he attended Wilbraham and Monson Academy in Massachusetts, where he averaged 22.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 7.0 blocks. In his high school days, Gabriel appeared in highly-regarded events such as the Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit. As a five-star recruit, Gabriel received looks from the likes of Duke and Maryland, but he ultimately attended Kentucky. You can follow Gabriel on Twitter and Instagram (@WenyenGabriel). Gabriel appeared in 75 games (30 starts) over two seasons with Kentucky before going pro. While he didn't necessarily have eye-popping counting stats on rosters loaded with four- and five-star talent, the 6-foot-9 forward showed plenty of potential at the next level, particularly on the defensive end. Gabriel's per-40 numbers were solid, as he posted 11.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks during his final year. He also ended his career on a high note, earning All-SEC Tournament First-Team honors in 2018. The Wildcats won the conference tournament that year, with Gabriel matching his college career high of 23 points in the semifinal against Alabama. He also posted a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 against Buffalo, but Kentucky was defeated by Kansas State in the Sweet Sixteen in what proved to be Gabriel's final collegiate game.