Kentucky guard Otega Oweh is rapidly becoming a fan favorite for both his on-court performances and his charismatic off-court personality. After Kentucky’s win over Louisville, head coach Mark Pope spoke about Oweh’s remarkable ability to stay “present” both during games and in his personal life, leading to an entertaining story about his early college experiences.
“One of the great things about Oweh is that he lives in the moment,” Pope shared. “He has an impressive ability to stay focused on the present, without worrying much about what’s coming or what just happened. He’s really good at being present—actually, he’s exceptional at it.”
Pope recalled a lighthearted moment involving Oweh’s early morning class attendance. The Wildcats, who have made a renewed commitment to engaging in class, had recently been focusing on punctuality. Oweh, however, was notorious for his occasional struggles with attending class on time.
“There was this one moment that was just hilarious,” Pope said, recalling how the team made an effort to ensure Oweh showed up for an early class. Just a couple of minutes after the class had ended, Pope received a video from Oweh showing him sitting alone in an empty classroom. “It turns out the class had been canceled, and we didn’t know,” Pope laughed. “Oweh epitomizes being present.”
Oweh’s deadpan response in the video, simply saying, “Ah,” has quickly become a lighthearted symbol of his laid-back, yet committed approach to life. Pope even joked about encouraging Oweh to share the video on social media, emphasizing how it perfectly captures the essence of his presence.
Now that the university is on winter break, Oweh can relax, but there’s no time for distractions. With Kentucky set to face Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic on December 21, Oweh will need to be as focused as ever. Kentucky fans are hoping he can help lead the Wildcats to a long-awaited victory over the Buckeyes, as Kentucky has not defeated Ohio State since the 2010-11 season.
Whether he’s on the court or in an empty classroom, Oweh is proving he’s always “present” in the most memorable ways.
