Otega Oweh decided to return to Kentucky instead of declaring for the 2025 NBA Draft, and his choice is already paying dividends.
The Wildcats’ leading scorer from the 2024-25 season withdrew from the draft process to return for his senior campaign, with head coach Mark Pope buzzing with excitement. From what Pope has witnessed in early practices, Oweh is reaching entirely new levels in his game.
How Has Otega Oweh’s Development Impressed Mark Pope This Summer?
Speaking on CBS Sports College Basketball, Wildcats HC Mark Pope couldn’t contain his enthusiasm when discussing Oweh’s summer growth.
“He’s got so much more to his ceiling,” he said. “I’ll tell you what I was most impressed with. Otega Oweh came in this summer after he’d gone through the entire NBA process, after he’d had one of the historic seasons as a player at Kentucky, which is hard to do with no break.”
What caught Pope’s attention most was Oweh’s defensive transformation. The 6’4″ guard has improved his defensive game to the point that his coach was amazed.
“He comes in there and he did things defensively this summer that I would walk off the floor and be like, I don’t even understand what I’m seeing on the court. It’s a real credit to him. He’s growing as a defensive player. I think he has a chance to be the top defensive player in the country, the most versatile.”
However, Oweh’s development extends far beyond the defensive end of the floor. Pope highlighted another area where his star player has been putting in serious work.
“He’s spending a ton of time growing his decision-making as a playmaker. I think he actually has a chance to become an elite-level playmaker.”
This combination of elite defense and improved playmaking ability could make Oweh one of the most complete players in college basketball during the 2025-26 season. For Kentucky, having a player capable of guarding multiple positions while also creating for teammates represents exactly the kind of versatility that makes championship runs possible.
Kentucky will open its 2025-26 campaign with exhibition games in October against Purdue and Georgetown, providing an early test for a retooled roster built for a deep postseason run.
What Made Otega Oweh’s 2024-25 Season So Special at Kentucky?
Oweh’s decision to return makes perfect sense when you consider how dramatically he elevated his game after transferring from Oklahoma. His first season wearing Kentucky blue resulted in career-high numbers across every major statistical category, averaging 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals while earning Second-Team All-SEC honors.
The timing of Oweh’s best performances couldn’t have been better for Kentucky. He saved his most explosive scoring for the final stretch of the season, reaching 20 or more points eight times during February and March.
That hot streak included a pair of memorable performances against his former team, Oklahoma, where he averaged 27.5 points across both matchups and delivered two game-winning shots.
That strong finish earned Oweh an invitation to the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, where he continued to impress scouts and evaluators. During the five-on-five scrimmages, he posted 10 points and three assists in the first game and 14 points and five rebounds in his second appearance. Observers at the event praised him as one of the top defenders.
Despite the positive feedback from NBA evaluators, Oweh ultimately chose to return to Kentucky for his senior season. The decision allows him to build on his breakout 2024-25 campaign while leading the Wildcats in their pursuit of a deep postseason run.
