Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh has made a pivotal decision, withdrawing from the NBA draft and committing to return to the Wildcats for his senior year. Oweh’s agent, Wilmer Jackson of Spencer Sports, confirmed the announcement to ESPN on Wednesday evening.
“I received great feedback from NBA teams, but the consensus was to come back to school and have a standout season,” Oweh told ESPN. “I want to boost my draft stock even more while chasing a national championship and earning every accolade along the way.”
Standing tall at 6-foot-5, the New Jersey native enjoyed a breakthrough season after transferring from Oklahoma last year. Oweh averaged career-high numbers, including 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game, securing second-team All-SEC honors. His late-season performance was especially remarkable, scoring 20-plus points in eight games during February and March. Notably, he delivered two game-winning performances against his former team, the Oklahoma Sooners, averaging 27.5 points in those contests.
Oweh also shone at the NBA Draft Combine, showcasing his defensive prowess and versatility in two standout 5-on-5 scrimmages. His decision to return to Kentucky positions the Wildcats as a preseason top-10 team and solidifies their potential for a deep postseason run.
“We’ve got the talent to be the No. 1 team in the country,” Oweh declared. “This group is hungry, determined, and ready to bring Kentucky its ninth national championship.”
The Wildcats, under the leadership of head coach Mark Pope, have reloaded their roster with a mix of experienced transfers and highly touted recruits. The incoming talent includes top-100 transfers such as Jayden Quaintance, Jaland Lowe, and Denzel Aberdeen, alongside ESPN Top 100 freshmen like Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno.
As the team’s top returning player, Oweh is embracing his role as the leader. “I’m ready to be the alpha, the voice that guides this team. I know the pain of falling short in the Sweet 16 last season, and I’m determined to lead us further this year,” he said.
Kentucky fans eagerly anticipate the Wildcats’ upcoming season, which kicks off with exhibition games against Purdue and Georgetown in October. With Oweh at the helm, Big Blue Nation has every reason to dream big.
