- Name
- Wenyen Gabriel
- Position
- Forward
- Class
- SO
- Hometown (Last School)
- Manchester, N.H. (Wilbraham & Monson Academy)
- Ht
- 6'9"
- Wt
- 213
- Seasons
- 2016-17, 2017-18
- Birthday
- March 26, 1997
Wenyen Gabriel was born on March 26, 1997, in Khartoum, Sudan, to Rebecca Gak and Makuar Gob but his family fled the country due to civil war, eventually settling in the United States.
Gabriel attended Trinity High School (NH) before transferring to Wilbraham & Monson Academy (MA), where he developed into a five-star recruit. His performance in high school earned him a spot as part of Kentucky’s highly touted 2016 recruiting class. He chose Kentucky over Duke, Connecticut, and Maryland.
Gabriel played two seasons at Kentucky (2016-17 and 2017-18), making an impact with his length, shot-blocking, and ability to stretch the floor as a forward.
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As a freshman (2016-17), he played in 38 games and made 23 starts, averaging 4.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. The Wildcats won the SEC regular-season championship and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament before falling to North Carolina.
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In his sophomore season (2017-18), Gabriel became a crucial role player, especially during the postseason. He helped lead Kentucky to the SEC Tournament Championship, memorably hitting a perfect 7-for-7 from three-point range in the semifinals against Alabama. He finished the season averaging 6.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. Kentucky reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament that year. He finished second on the team with 42 3-pointers, including 20 over the final 11 games and led the Wildcats in blocks with 40 swats
After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft, Gabriel signed with the Sacramento Kings, initially playing in the NBA G League before earning a spot on the roster. Over the years, he has played for multiple NBA teams, including the Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers, and Brooklyn Nets, contributing as a high-energy forward off the bench.
Wenyen Gabriel is remembered at Kentucky for his grit, defensive versatility, and clutch performances, especially in the 2018 SEC Tournament. His journey from a refugee to playing at one of the most storied college basketball programs, and then reaching the NBA, is a testament to his resilience and determination.
