On May 28, Kentucky’s rising senior guard Otega Oweh decided to withdraw from the 2025 NBA Draft and return to Lexington for his final year.
Head coach Mark Pope couldn’t have been happier about the news. While Oweh is already Kentucky’s best player, Pope believes there’s still more room for him to grow.
Otega Oweh’s Return: How Can He Get Even Better?
Oweh first declared for the NBA Draft on April 16 but kept his college eligibility open. To stay eligible, players needed to withdraw from the draft by May 28, which Oweh did just in time. Other big-name players, including Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford and Michigan commit Yaxel Lendeborg, also chose to return to college.
In a video posted to social media, Oweh shared his excitement about coming back for one more year.
“This year has exceeded all my expectations. Through all the highs and the lows, I’ve found a family in Kentucky forever. So let’s run it back. I’m staying home,” he said.
What Makes Oweh So Special?
No one was happier about Oweh’s decision than head coach Mark Pope. Pope raved about Oweh’s physicality on both ends of the floor.
“Otega’s physicality is elite, his physicality on the offensive and defensive end,” Pope said in a recent interview. “It shows up in contact, he actually hits. It shows up in his ability to navigate guarding guys off the ball through screens and on the ball through screens by creating space with his chest. In those ways, he is as good as you’re going to find. He’s really special.”
Last season, Oweh averaged 16.2 points per game on 49% shooting. He was the only Wildcat to make more than 200 shots, with no other Kentucky player hitting even 150.
For his performance, Oweh was named to the SEC second team, and he helped lead Kentucky to the Sweet Sixteen before falling to Tennessee.
What Areas Can Oweh Improve?
While Pope is thrilled to have Oweh back, he believes his star guard still has areas to improve. In the same interview, Pope said that Oweh can become a better playmaker and also develop into a bigger defensive threat against larger opponents.
Oweh himself said he wants to quicken his shooting form, which could help him become even more dangerous on the offensive end.
Pope summed up his excitement about Oweh’s potential perfectly, saying, “I think he has a chance to grow into one of the elite steals guys in the country. He’s got a ton of room to grow, but he’s an unbelievable player who had a great season last year and he’s fun to talk about.”
