The wait is finally over. Otega Oweh, the All-SEC guard, has announced his return to Kentucky, solidifying the Wildcats as legitimate contenders in the 2025-26 season. The news sent shockwaves of excitement throughout the fanbase, with many breathing a sigh of relief that the star player chose to stay.
Oweh’s potential teammates were just as eager to hear the news, with Alabama transfer Mo Dioubate and Florida transfer Denzel Aberdeen closely following the decision. “I was so happy, man. I’m not gonna lie,” Dioubate said. “He’s a guy — I knew him from before I came here, I knew how hard he worked. Just knowing that he was coming back, I just felt more confident in us winning the championship.”
Aberdeen echoed similar sentiments, saying, “I remember hearing when his name when the deadline was coming up. I was telling my dad and my friends, like, ‘Yeah, if he comes back, it’s going to get serious.’” And serious it has gotten. Oweh’s return gives Kentucky its leading scorer back from Mark Pope’s debut roster, and his presence will undoubtedly help the new additions find their footing in blue and white.
The veteran guard’s leadership and experience will be invaluable to the team. “They know the culture. They’re going to constantly remind guys the culture here,” Dioubate said. “The leadership that they have, they just try to bring it to everyone else, their experience. They know all the plays, they know where players have to be, stuff like that.”
Oweh’s impressive skills on the court are well-documented. In the SEC-opening win against Aberdeen’s Gators, he went for 16 points on 6-10 shooting with four rebounds and two steals. Aberdeen praised Oweh’s game, saying, “His game was great, man. He’s a very strong, athletic guard. It was hard to stop him getting to the basket.”
The star Wildcat was also sensational against Dioubate’s Crimson Tide in the first home matchup, going for 21 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block. Dioubate, who defended Oweh in the head-to-head battle, is proud of holding him to single-digit scoring in the return trip to Tuscaloosa.
Now that they’re teammates, Dioubate and Oweh engage in some friendly trash talk. “Yeah, we talk a little trash here and there,” Dioubate said. “We play (one-on-ones) a lot and we spend a lot of time around each other. Our goal is, for next year, winning and playing together, getting along.” With Oweh’s return, Kentucky’s championship aspirations just got a whole lot more serious.
