PHILADELPHIA — Just a stone’s throw from Camden, New Jersey, where he starred for longtime state powerhouse Camden High, Aaron Bradshaw felt at home Saturday.

In just his second game for No. 17 Kentucky after being sidelined by a foot injury since the day he stepped on campus this summer, Bradshaw showed why he was a five-star prospect — and a player expected to be another in a long line of the Wildcats’ one-and-done products under coach John Calipari — in the team’s 81-66 win over Penn at the Wells Fargo Center.

The arena, which is barely 7 miles from Camden High and serves as the home of two of Philadelphia’s beloved professional teams (the Flyers and 76ers), did its best Rupp Arena impression Saturday, as UK backers far outnumbered Penn supporters.

Those in attendance, including what Bradshaw earlier this week speculated likely would be more than four dozen friends and family members, witnessed him put up a double-double off the bench: 17 points (on 7-of-12 shooting), 11 rebounds, three blocks and a steal in 29 minutes.

"Somebody told me to sub him and I'm like, 'Are you out of your mind? Are you watching this?'" Calipari said, before noting Bradshaw practiced just one time before his season debut, which came in last week's home loss to UNC Wilmington. "Because the doc said, 'You can play him.' (I'm like), 'Great, he's in.'

"And today, he did some stuff. How about block a shot? Now you drive (and you think), 'Oh, he may be in there.'"

Bradshaw's point total tied for the game high (along with teammate Rob Dillingham and Penn's Clark Slajchert), while his rebound figure led all players; his block figure also was a team high.

To put icing on the cake, he also boasted the best plus-minus rating (plus-17) of any player who took the floor Saturday.

"It was a really surreal feeling to be back home in front of my family, especially with my brothers, playing with this team," said the 7-foot-1, 226-pound Bradshaw. "And I was just having fun out there."

It was a performance rarely seen in the Calipari era, now in its 15th season: Per UK statistican Corey Price, the only other Wildcats to post a point-rebound-block line resembling Bradshaw's outing Saturday were Oscar Tshiebwe (last season versus Michigan State) and Willie Cauley-Stein (2014 against Ole Miss).

He rejected shots with authority. He boxed out for rebounds. He hit the floor, diving for loose balls. He even stepped out beyond the 3-point arc and attempted the first triple of his college career — and on this day, when everything was going his way, of course the ball swished through the net.

"Everything was my favorite moment," Bradshaw said, "from scoring to getting rebounds."

Going forward, as his conditioning continues improving and his foot injury fully heals, Bradshaw’s 3-point prowess is expected to be showcased more and more.

"In a pick and roll, I haven't done it," Calipari said. "He wants a pop some (on perimeter shots), because he thinks he can shoot 3s. I'm like, 'You're rolling to the basket.' But there may be a point where he goes and gets 20 rebounds and seven blocks and we'll pop him and let him shoot some 3s."

For now, Bradshaw's intangibles — his energy, his length, his vocal leadership — are more than enough for a Kentucky (7-2) club that doesn’t lack for talent, boasting the nation’s top-ranked 2023 recruiting class.

"You hope he (would have had) a little more rust," Penn coach Steve Donahue said with a laugh, referring to Bradshaw. "As I said, I've seen those kids play. They're just playing basketball. They're thinking the game. Kids are so much further along than 15, 20 years ago. They played high-level high school, crazy events. Like this (playing at Wells Fargo Arena) didn't faze them at all. And he's a really talented player."

Such that he could change the entire complexion of the Wildcats' season, from where Donahue's sitting.

"You look at his size, and to me, that's a difference-maker for them," he said. "When you watch them on film, they're shooting 3s and they're playing (free), but to have someone out there to protect the rim and is that skilled? I think it takes their program to another level. I thought Wilmington was able to get to the rim and do some things. Today, I just thought his presence was a big difference."

And he's one of at least two, if not three, 7-footers who could keep pushing this season's squad forward. Prior to Saturday's game, Calipari said sophomore big man Ugonna Onyenso — who's been battling a foot injury of his own — potentially could play in UK's next contest Dec. 16, when it faces North Carolina in Atlanta. And the Wildcats are still waiting for the NCAA to issue a ruling on 7-3 Croatian freshman Zvonimir Ivišić's amateur status after he spent the past few seasons playing overseas in professional leagues.

As they proved against the Quakers (6-5), the Wildcats have a split personality. Which one emerges as dominant likely will define their fate come March.

"I have two teams," Calipari said. "I have a small team. And now I have a big team.

"And when do (each of them) play?"

'I'm not changing': Will John Calipari going all-in on freshmen pay off for UK in 2023-24?

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball: Aaron Bradshaw, of Camden NJ High, shines in win