Kentucky basketball’s outlook surged after standout guard Otega Oweh pulled out of the 2025 NBA Draft just ahead of the 11:59 p.m. ET deadline. Analysts now view the Wildcats as a preseason top-10 squad, citing Oweh’s return as a game-changer for head coach Mark Pope.
The 6-foot-5 New Jersey native transferred from Oklahoma and flourished in his first year at Kentucky, leading the team with 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. His breakout season earned him second-team All-SEC recognition.
With Oweh back for his senior year, expectations around the program have shifted dramatically, giving Kentucky one of the most formidable rosters in college basketball heading into the new season.
Otega Oweh’s Return Sparks Analyst Optimism for Kentucky Basketball
The momentum around Kentucky basketball has shifted dramatically following Oweh’s decision to withdraw from the 2025 NBA Draft and return for his senior season. His return not only elevates the Wildcats’ ceiling but has also prompted college basketball analysts to re-evaluate Kentucky’s national standing heading into the 2025–26 campaign.
“When I update my top 25, they are a top-five team,” said analyst Aaron Torres. “Yes, you can criticize Torres in the comments section. I am flip-flopping. New information equals new opinion. I think Kentucky is officially the team to beat in this league.”
Torres pointed to Kentucky’s unique combination of size, athleticism, and toughness, calling it a roster that “has clearly improved in depth and athleticism.”
Oweh, a 6-foot-5 guard who transferred from Oklahoma, delivered a standout junior year in Lexington, averaging 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals. He earned second-team All-SEC honors and was a force late in the season, scoring 20 or more points in eight games during February and March.
That stretch included two game-winners against his former team, where he averaged 27.5 points across both matchups.
“I got great feedback from NBA teams, but the consensus was to come back to school and have a great year,” Oweh told ESPN. “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.”
At the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, Oweh impressed scouts with two strong scrimmage performances—posting 10 points and three assists in one game, then 14 points and five rebounds the next—while emerging as one of the best defenders in the camp.
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His leadership will be pivotal for a retooled Kentucky roster that lost four of five starters from last season.
“My mindset is trying to be the alpha guy,” Oweh said. “I need to be that voice that leads the team. I’m one of the few guys that was there last year. I know the feeling of losing in the Sweet 16. I plan to lead the group this year.”
With the additions of top transfers Jayden Quaintance, Jaland Lowe, Denzel Aberdeen, Kam Williams, Mouhamed Dioubate, and three ESPN 100 recruits, Kentucky enters the season as a legitimate contender.
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