Otega Oweh isn’t done in Lexington just yet.
After weighing his future on wanting to stay in the NBA Draft, the Kentucky Wildcats guard has decided to return for another season, aiming to elevate both his stock and the Wildcats’ championship hopes.
“I got great feedback from NBA teams, but the consensus was to come back to school and have a great year,” Oweh told Jonathan Givony and Jeff Borzello. “I want to try and up my stock even more and put myself in a position to win a national championship with all the possible accolades that come with that.”
Oweh had until 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday to decide whether to remain in the NBA Draft or return to college. In the end, the call to return to Kentucky and chase banner No. 9 was too strong to ignore.
The 6-foot-5 guard out of New Jersey broke through as one of the Wildcats’ most consistent two-way players last season. After transferring from Oklahoma, Oweh exploded onto the SEC scene with career highs across the board, averaging 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. His impact earned him second-team All-SEC honors and the attention of NBA scouts.
As for Oweh, it’s not just about individual accolades for him.
“We have the talent to be the No. 1 team in the country,” Oweh told ESPN. “A lot of guys who are hungry to make that jump, and that intensity to go get national championship No. 9 for Kentucky. I’m excited to play with everyone. It will be a fun year.”
With Oweh back in the fold and new head coach Mark Pope assembling a promising roster, Kentucky’s sights are firmly set on a deep March run — and perhaps more.