Kentucky Wildcats senior big man Oscar Tshiebwe has announced that he is declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft. He is keeping his options open and will maintain his college eligibility while exploring the 2023 NBA Draft process. Tshiebwe has an extra year of eligibility that he can use if he decides to thanks to the impact the Coronavirus had on the 2020-21 college basketball season. While at Kentucky, Tshiebwe has been one of the best big men in college basketball. While some things are counting against him when entering the draft, scouts will still be evaluating him during this period.
I know that he who has begun good work in me will complete it ?? – Philippians 1:6 @KentuckyMBB pic.twitter.com/oxepSlCWR9
— Big O (@Oscartshiebwe34) April 7, 2023
This past season as a senior for the Kentucky Wildcats, Oscar Tshiebwe averaged 16.5 points, 13.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and one block per game. He paired those numbers with a field goal percentage of 56 percent and a free throw percentage of 72.9 percent. He has been a force in both the SEC and in college basketball for the past two seasons. If this is the end of his college basketball career, he has left a lasting impression on the Wildcats program.
Upperclassmen big men do not often get drafted in the first round in the modern NBA and most of them struggle to even get second-round looks. With NIL deals not available it is possible that Oscar Tshiebwe would make more playing college basketball next season. He could also play for another year and then get about the same results in the 2024 NBA Draft next year.
