Otega Oweh, Kentucky’s standout player, has provided everything the Wildcats have needed this season. He’s been a consistent scorer, a defensive force, and a key contributor on the boards, always giving his best effort. His stellar play even sparked a crucial run that helped Kentucky defeat rival Louisville.

No doubt, Oweh has burst onto the college basketball scene as a standout for the Kentucky Wildcats. He’s leading the team with an impressive 15.7 points per game, while also contributing 4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Here’s everything you need to know about Wildcat’s rising star.

Meet Kentucky’s rising star

Born in Newark, New Jersey, Otega grew up with two brothers, Kaylen and Odafe, and one sister, Natasha. Sharing a knack for sports, his brother Odafe plays linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens and previously played college football at Penn State. Oweh was a highly regarded four-star prospect, earning top rankings from ESPN, 247Sports, and Rivals.

Over his high school career at Blair Academy, he played in 56 games before his senior season. As a sophomore, he averaged 14.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game. He led Team Final EYBL (PA) to a 17U Peach Jam title and earned the Nike EYBL Peach Jam Breakout Player of the Session award, averaging 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 steals.

Coming out of high school, Oweh was known for his athleticism and ability to attack the basket, with the potential to develop into a strong defender. Over his two years at Oklahoma, he lived up to that promise.

As a freshman, he started 9 of 28 games, averaging nearly 5 points per game. In his sophomore year, he took on a larger role, starting 28 of 32 games, playing about 25 minutes per on average, and averaging 11 points and 1.5 steals. During league play, he elevated his performance, averaging 15 points per game.

Otega Oweh always had his sights set on playing at the next level, and when the opportunity came to transfer to Kentucky, he knew it was his time to shine.

“The history is so rich,” Oweh said. “The plan that coach (Mark) Pope had for the program — I was really intrigued with it at the end of the day with Kentucky. I want to be a pro. I mean, this is one of the best places in the country to do that.” With two years of eligibility left, Otega was ready to make his dreams a reality at Lexington, all while playing a key role in shaping the future of the program.

Oweh was in a position to test the NBA Draft waters by the end of the season, but had he chosen to return for the 2024-25 campaign, he could have enjoyed a standout senior year and become an All-SEC-caliber player.

Oweh’s NBA potential

The 6-ft-4 guard has been scoring efficiently, shooting 52.5% from the field. He’s also been impressive from beyond the arc, hitting 37.5% of his three-pointers. The big question is whether Oweh will enter the NBA Draft after this season or return to Kentucky. In a recent NBA Big Board, he was ranked 76th, placing him outside the group of players likely to be selected in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Oweh has all the tools to become an elite NBA player. The one thing still holding him back is his three-point shooting. While he’s shooting 37.5% from beyond the arc this season, his consistency has been a bit up and down, and the NBA, which is increasingly getting used to deep shooting over dunks, will want to see him continue to improve in that area.

As Oweh keeps impressing, his potential for the draft seems limitless. If he maintains this level of play, Kentucky could add another lottery pick to its roster, further solidifying the program as a true launching pad for future NBA stars.

As of now, it seems likely that Oweh will play another season of college basketball before making the jump to the professional league. However, if he continues to improve his performance, things could quickly change.