Only God knows what my future holds, but until then, its time to get to work.". Oscar Tshiebwe declares for NBA Draft Oscar Tshiebwe declares for NBA Draft By Chris Fisher Apr 7, 5:00 PM 1 Kentucky big man and 2022 consensus national Please login to leave a reply. His improvement from last season is massive. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: collegebasketball | pageType: stories | @JonRothstein asked Oscar Tshiebwe if he is coming back to @KentuckyMBB next season. I would also like to thank Coach Calipari and the coaching staff for believing in a kid from the Congo, as well as my teammates for standing beside me and fighting every day. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Heres how bad it looks for the Cats. He can get to his spots with ease and has grown into one of the better 3-point shooters in the conference while making strides as an on-ball creator. In the 2022-23 Kentucky vs. Louisville all-sports rivalry, the Big Blue came through, Kentucky mens basketball might unleash an overlooked secret weapon in 2023-24, Why Alan Stein hopes Lexington will give its pro baseball team a fresh look. Kentucky has already seen starters Cason Wallace and Jacob Toppin declare for the NBA draft with the intent to remain in the draft, while Antonio Reeves is doing so while maintaining his college eligibility. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. A Sea of Blue has all the Kentucky Wildcats news and analysis you need, so be sure to go like our Facebook page and then go follow us on Twitter. "First, I would like to thank God for everything He has done for me," Tshiebwe said. 2.) 49 overall pick. If I were him, I wouldn't walk away from that. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Kentucky star Oscar Tshiebwe declared for the NBA draft on Friday, but the 2022 Wooden Award winner also left open the option to return to Lexington for one more season. It is also only an indication that he is a candidate for selection in the first round, not yet a projection that he is within the top 30 picks. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. Can We Blame LeBron. 6-keys: media/spln/collegebasketball/reg/free/stories, at Tshiebwe, a 6-foot-9 center from Congo, was the consensus National Player of the Year in 2022 after averaging 17.4 points and 15.1 rebounds -- leading the country in the latter category. 1:48 pm ET, Miami (Ohio) WBB coach resigns after investigation, Texas joins Top 25 And 1 after landing Abmas, Five-star prospect Ron Holland decommits from Texas, Ranking college basketball's top 40 transfers of 2023, No. Who should withdraw from NBA Draft, return to college? "At this time, I feel as though it is best for me to declare for the NBA Draft while maintaining my college eligibility," Tshiebwe said. Tshiebwe is among the very few players who embrace doing the dirty work and thankless responsibilities, and thats exactly whats going to blaze his path into the NBA. --Kyle Boone. DeAndre Square to Rams as UDFA; Jacquez Jones gets camp invite with Falcons. All Rights Reserved. NBA money, even as a rookie second-rounder, is solid as well. The Lakers Are Toast. Call (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelpline.ma.org (MA), Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). You can listen to Vecenies appearance on the Game Theory Podcast below. I came to the Herald-Leader in the glamorous position of agate clerk on Aug. 27, 1990. Sahvir Wheeler and Ugonna Onyenso have entered the transfer portal. Vous pouvez modifier vos choix tout moment en cliquant sur le lien Tableau de bord sur la vie prive prsent sur nos sites et dans nos applications. Whether fans want to admit it or not, money talks and is almost always a driving force in decisions. Michigan State enrolls a top-five incoming recruiting class, its highest-ranked class since 2016, which is flush with talent and on paper surrounds Akins with weapons upon weapons that will not just push him, but better accentuate what he does well. Will there be a second or will he leave for the NBA Draft? He's lost players a year earlier than anticipated basically every spring since he got to Arkansas. To break down exactly why that is, we went to the video room. "Not everybody is able to make their dream true. Im excited for Oscar to go through this process to see if its his time to live out his ultimate goal.". Wagner was named the Iverson Classic National High School Player of the Year. But two years in a row, it did not happen," a dejected Tshiebwe said after the Wildcats' 75-69 loss to Kansas State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last month. Both players have been invited to the NBA Combine in Chicago in May. The G League Elite Camp will take place May 13-14 with the draft combine set to run May 15-21 in Chicago, Illinois. The Spartans marched into the second weekend of this year's NCAA Tournament -- which as a No. The reigning national player of the year returned to Kentucky for a senior year, but a preseason knee procedure prevented him from reaching full health until midway through. Players have until 11:59 p.m. on May 31 to withdraw from the draft if they wish to return to college, which sets up an anxious few weeks for players and programs determining what their futures will look like. His 25 in a first round win over Providence this season were the most in any NCAA Tournament game since 1977. Should he declare for the draft, Tshiebwe will turn 23-years-old early into his rookie season. The full video, which can be found above, outlines what some of the concerns are from an NBA perspective. Sports have been his passion since he was young, whether it be playing them, watching them, or writing about them. Basketball News, Analysis, History, Schedule, Rumors. Thats considered old for rookies, but there are plenty of examples of why this can be irrelevant. That prospect would be big man Oscar Tshiebwe, 2022s National College Player of the Year. Sundays game between Kentucky and Michigan is expected to get plenty of NBA eyeballs. Murray, meanwhile, solidified his standing as a likely first-round draft pick with a huge year for the Hawkeyes. If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. Do I think he's likely to improve his NBA Draft stock with a fifth season of college basketball? Add Walsh to the list that's vulnerable to exit. Our writers weighed in for this week's dribble handoff. Hes a Tshiebwe announced on April 7 that he would declare for the 2023 NBA draft while maintaining the right to return to school next season. But whatever decision God has told me to do thats what Im going to do.. "I'm probably going to say sorry to Big Blue Nation because when I came here, my dream was to do something great. When speaking with reporters Sunday in a subdued UK locker room after the Cats fell to Kansas State 75-69 in the NCAA Tournament round of 32, Tshiebwe often used past tense when referring to his college career. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Recent mock drafts from Bleacher Report and USA Today feature Tshiebwe in the second round. Hes averaging 16.9 points, 15.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and Tshiebwe is a historically great rebounder and had moments where he absolutely dominated teams on offense with his strength. mesurer votre utilisation de nos sites et applications. However, he struggled mightily In total, there are now 54 college basketball players that we consider to be potential first round prospects, and of course that doesnt include others in the G League, Overtime Elite, or abroad. Kentucky leads college basketball with six different players listed among The Draftables, a comprehensive list of NBA prospects currently playing college basketball, and Michigan has anascending one-and-done candidate in Jett Howard. Finding him in a first-round mock is downright rare. As I continue down this path, I pray that I can continue to have the amazing love and support of BBN, as you will always be in my heart and prayers. It seems likely that Oscar Tshiebwe has played his final game for the Kentucky Wildcats. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. 4 Aaron Bradshaw. We have more draft-related items: Kentuckys star big man Oscar Tshiebwe hasnt ruled out returning to college but hes got a number of workouts lined up, Zagoria adds in another tweet. April 25, 2023 10:00 pm ET The NBA on Tuesday announced that 242 players, including 48 international prospects, filed as early entry candidates for the 2023 NBA draft on June 22. 30 on ESPNs Best Available list. Tshiebwe averaged 16.5 PPG and 13.7 RPG this past season. "As I continue down this path, I pray that I can continue to have the amazing love and support of BBN, as you will always be in my heart and prayers. The good news for Kentucky fans is that Tshiebwe returning definitely seems on the table. The problem for Kentucky is that this roster is flawed to win a national title. April 25, 2023 2:08 pm ET. His 1,117 points is the second-highest individual total over any two-year span in school history behind only Bill Spivey (1,213) school history and ranks second in program history behind only Kyle Macy (1,411) for points by a transfer. The 6-foot-9 Tshiebwe was originally a transfer from West Virginia before exploding as the best rebounder in the nation. 74 in ESPN's 2023 NBA draft rankings. Only first-round selections receive guaranteed NBA contracts. Tshiebwe will lead Kentucky this month and can only raise his draft stock from here. The senior big man now has until May 31 to withdraw his name from the draft if he chooses to go back to college. dvelopper et amliorer nos produits et services. He didn't repeat as Player of the Year this past season, but still paced the nation in rebounding at 13.7 per game. Akins showed flashes of making a leap from role player to borderline star down the stretch of the season with his smooth, left-handed release a nightmare for defenders to try and stop. Kentucky's Tshiebwe to test NBA draft waters, Men's college basketball rosters: Comings and goings for 2023-24, 2023 No. Hes also shooting over 69 percent from the field. Oscar Tshiebwe now has about as many Player of the Year awards as fingers after picking up the Naismith Mens College Player of the Year award on Sunday. He also is expected to be a candidate to compete in the draft combine or G League Elite Camp. 1. He has the physicality and defensive upside to make him a treasured off-the-bench specialist down the road. "[Calipari's] got to get Oscar Tshiebweto come back, first and foremost, which I think he will end up coming back," said Greenberg, who is very close to Calipari, and comes to Lexington to work Calipari's Fantasy Camp every summer. Its all up to God, Tshiebwe said on Sunday. --David Cobb. There might not be a third. And if he comes back, Arkansas would return another NBA prospect in Trevon Brazile, not to mention the clutch transfer get in Houston's Tramon Mark. He scores in the paint and is great at put-backs, but will likely not develop into a floor spacer. He announced the decision on his Instagram page His 28 boards vs. Western Kentucky last season was the most by a Wildcat since Mike Phillips in 1976. On his final weekly radio show of the season Monday night, Calipari was already envisioning a Twin Towers lineup for 2023-24 with 6-11, 225-pound, current UK freshman Ugonna Onyenso and 7-foot, 207-pound incoming recruit Aaron Bradshaw playing together. See our ethics statement. Ive been praying about it and I know I have a big decision to make. With the draft looking a long shot, Tshiebwe would seem to be in close to the same position in which he and other college post players with games that are not 2:14 Oscar Tshiebwe put together two record-setting seasons at Kentucky. Oscar Tshiebwe ( Kentucky) I'm choosing to answer the question presented in the most literal sense and going with Tshiebwe because I really do believe he could Only God knows what my future holds, but until then, it's time to get to work.". Its difficult to imagine (but certainly not impossible) Tshiebwe putting up even better numbers next season at the collegiate level, so hes certainly ready to go pro. I dont think you can win six-straight games against coaching staffs that are trying to exploit every single thing that you do poorly on a night-to-night basis.. How would Kentucky fans feel if Oscar Tshiebwe, beloved Wildcat, were to finish his college career playing for, lets say randomly, Tennessee? Mark Story has worked in the Lexington Herald-Leader sports department since Aug. 27, 1990, and has been a Herald-Leader sports columnist since 2001. Adama Sanogo and Andre Jackson Jr.were two key players in UConns national championship season. Coming back would give him the opportunity to make even more of a name for himself while pursuing greater team success in the NCAA Tournament. PRO: Final chance for Tshiebwe to evolve, take a stab at improving NBA draft stock If you're finding Tshiebwe on any 2023 NBA draft boards, it's either Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. He dominates the defensive end and absolutely feasts on the boards. Slip him the ball in the paint and hell find a way to finish. WebOscar Tshiebwe is BACK. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Walsh, a freshman,is a former five-star prospect who had a good debut on an Arkansas team that was stop-and-go for much of the season. Rudy GobertandClint Capela arent great floor spacers but still excellent centers. Another Sweet 16 is about to begin without Kentucky. In three career NCAA Tournament games, Tshiebwe totaled 63 points and 59 rebounds, an average of 21 points and 19.6 rebounds, but UK went just 1-2. Tshiebwe is not projected to be selected in either round this year. The one thing we dont yet know about him is if hell be an NBA Draft prospect as well. Dribble Handoff: Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe among players who should withdraw from NBA Draft, return to college These are the the players we believe should return to college after the pre-draft process Wallace has been the Cats best player this season and has had the highest draft stock since the season began. Its not gonna hate on a lot of these individual players. Got a link you think we should check out? Kentucky big man Oscar Tshiebwe has workouts scheduled with Boston, Milwaukee, Houston, and Sacramento w/ more to follow, per a league source. Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has become the great equalizer in allowing college stars to return instead of testing the waters in the NBA Draft. The decision is his, but the draft stock is definitely there and rising. Tshiebwe is dominating the college basketball landscape. Hes averaging 16.9 points, 15.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. Hes also shooting over 69 percent from the field. National Player of the Year honors can be coming in the future. In todays NBA, the preferred style of basketball with emphasis on outside shooting and pick-and-roll actions has moved against a rebound-first forward prospect such as Tshiebwe. In what is still a relatively-new era in college sports, the latter scenario would yield two fascinating questions: 1.) Despite some team struggles for this current Kentucky squad, Tshiebwe is still putting up mesmerizing statisticsboth traditional and advanced. UK's Wallace, projected lottery pick, to enter draft. He averaged 17.4 points and 15.2 If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/OH/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500(VA). 1 in the 2023-24 men's Way-Too-Early Top 25, Everything you need to know about "The Bag Game," a podcast on college hoops' bribery scandal. He has the skills necessary to succeed in the league. "There is no player in that league like Oscar. Out of five 2023 NBA mock drafts that I checked Thursday morning, only one, USA Todays, had Tshiebwe being drafted and that was in the second round as the No. Tshiebwe is a historically great rebounder and had moments where he absolutely dominated teams on offense with his strength. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'I9JgCfaQRB55ZAGLD1jygw',sig:'faLU6HTUBACUt-PPpb6iXDPinl4nFUSD9bSEkhceFdE=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1237236922',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Dylan is a journalism graduate of Texas Christian University. While we have Oscar Tshiebwe listed as a potential first-round candidate, that is admittedly an optimistic outlook. Ron Holland was someone Kentucky really wanted in the 2023 class. The 2021 NBA Draft has a good example inChris Duarte. - Philippians 1:6 @KentuckyMBB pic.twitter.com/oxepSlCWR9. Void in ONT. Should Walsh return, I think he'd grow into a top-50 all-around player in college hoops next season, with top-15 upside strictly as a defender. But the 6-foot-6 wing has plenty to work on offensively before he can be considered a safe bet to get selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. At nbadraftroom.com, they listed Tshiebwe as the 76th-best prospect available in 2023 for what is typically a 60-player draft. Oscar Tshiebwe Draft Stock The Numbers Tshiebwe is dominating the college basketball landscape. I dont think you can win a six-game NCAA Tournament, six games in a row, with Oscar Tshiebwe as your center. "Oscar fulfilled one dream by being a Kentucky basketball player, but hes ready to chase this next dream," UK head coach John Calipari said. The league office released the official list of early entry candidates for the 2022 NBA draft, and there werent too many surprises. I'm choosing to answer the question presented in the most literal sense and going with Tshiebwe because I really do believe he could benefit more than any other early entrant to the 2023 NBA Draft by returning to Kentucky and capitalizing on another year of name, image and likeness opportunities. He played one and a half seasons at West Virginia to open his career before transferring to Kentucky in January 2021. With the draft looking a long shot, Tshiebwe would seem to be in close to the same position in which he and other college post players with games that are not ideal fits for the current NBA such as North Carolinas Armando Bacot and Gonzagas Drew Timme found themselves last year. What could a former national player of the year command financially on the college hoops free-agent market?. In 10 games for West Virginia, Tshiebwe averaged 8.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. It is unclear if Bates has signed with an agent or retained his ability to return to school next season. Calipari is bringing in the nation's No. DJ Wagner and Justin Edwards honored at Iverson Classic. Is the SEC going overboard in its drive to stop fans from rushing the field/court? The draft lottery will take place on May 17. 1 prospect Justin Edwards, No. Tshiebwe is dominating the college basketball landscape. After testing the draft waters hes back for his senior year at We have more draft-related items: Kentuckys star big man Oscar Tshiebwe hasnt ruled out returning to college but hes got a number of workouts lined up, Zagoria adds in another tweet. That could change in 2023. Despite a stellar college career, Sanogo has to open some eyes to get drafted. 1 player in the portal. There may be questions of his size at 69 at center, the same criticisms that surround a player such asMontrezl Harrell. Oscar Tshiebwe and Jacob Toppin, however, have been outliers on the other side. There shouldnt be any debate there. 4 recruit in Class of 2024, commits to Arizona, NBA announces 242 players declaring early for draft, SEC considers hefty penalties for court storming, Pitino jokes giving out number helps recruiting. Bates was named to the All-MAC third team after averaging 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists on 33% shooting from 3-point range. More time on the ball, which could be in the cards with roster turnover, may benefit Akins next season. The Athletics Shams Charania, John Hollinger and Brendan Quinn, Pacific Notes: Curry, Looney, Lyles, Durant, Northwest Notes: Reid, McDaniels, Finch, Jazz Contracts, Suns Notes: Ayton, Payne, Booker, Three-Point Shooting, Sixers Notes: Embiid, Playoff Break, Celtics, Rockets Notes: Udoka, Green, Smith, Porter, Nuggets Notes: Murray, Title Hopes, Porter, Bench, Players Eligible For Rookie Scale Extensions 2023, Players Eligible For Veteran Extensions 2022/23. Moving on, Oscar Tshiebwe moved up one spot, but he is still no projected close to the first-round as he is sitting at No. I have covered every Kentucky-Louisville football game since 1994, every UK-U of L basketball game but three since 1996-97 and every Kentucky Derby since 1994. the average salary for pro basketball players in the EuroLeague, My confession: Ill be rooting for Rick Pitino to save St. Johns basketball, The biggest decision of the Kentucky basketball offseason could reshape the next UK roster. The SEC punishing schools whose fans rush the field or storm the court with game forfeits or loss of a home game is being discussed. Morris mentions the style of play in college can either help or hurt you in the WNBA. I'm excited for Oscar to go through this process to see if it's his time to live out his ultimate goal.". That could change if he declares for the draft and makes more an impression in evaluations but it doesnt seem that hes ever going to be more than a fringe first-rounder in this cycle. Pour en savoir plus sur la faon dont nous utilisons vos donnes personnelles, veuillez consulter notre politique relative la vie prive et notre politique en matire de cookies. Tshiebwes skills and physical traits do not fit those tasks. Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe is the latest men's college basketball star to declare for the upcoming NBA draft. It's hard to imagine any Kentucky player who accomplished more individually over two seasons than Tshiebwe, who ranks in the top 10 in rebounds (952), top 25 in blocks (87), top 30 in steals (112), and the top 50 in points (1,117). Sundays game between Kentucky and Michigan is expected to get plenty of NBA eyeballs. If he does, he could become a first-round pick in 2024 since his size, athleticism and defensive ability are all working in his favor. No. During an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show this week, ESPN college basketball analyst Seth Greenbergsaid he expects to see the two-time All-American return to Kentucky next season. As the NBA game has evolved, the role for a non-shooting big is as a rim-running, alley-oop dunk option on offense and a shot-blocking rim protector on defense. 2 transfer Max Abmas commits to Texas. Keels, by contrast, appeared in just three NBA games, concluding the season on a two-way contract with the Knicks and facing a somewhat uncertain future. So who are the players we believe would benefit from returning to college for the 2023-24 season after going through this year's NBA Draft process? In the Razorbacks' three NCAA Tournament games, Walsh had more fouls (10) than rebounds (7). All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. Over 66 games, Tshiebwe amassed eight 20-rebound games while all UK players since the 1970-71 season have combined for seven such games. He's also an ideal player to have in your locker room because he will truly care about his teammates, the organization and the community. Kentucky big man and 2022 National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe declared for the 2023 NBA Draft Friday while maintaining his final year of college eligibility. He's No. Walsh is an NBA prospect, for sure. Oscar Tshiebwe now has about as many Player of the Year awards as fingers after picking up the Naismith Mens College Player of the Year award on Sunday. In a normal circumstance, a player whose two-year career at a school like Tshiebwes at Kentucky had left him standing 48th in school history in scoring (1,117 career points), sixth in rebounding (952), 30th in steals (112), 24th in blocked shots (87) and tied for second in career double-doubles (48) would have an automatic invitation to return. Oscar Tshiebwe has accomplished just about every individual honor in NCAA basketball but it seems hes still not certain if his next step is to leave for the NBA. Despite that, hes officially revealed his decision to test the pro waters before making his ultimate decision. Now that hes eligible for a NIL deal, and holding a lot of star power at Kentucky, Tshiebwe can dominate college basketball once again while making a very solid amount of money. But with another year of offensive refinement, the calculus could change dramatically for Livingston, who has all the ingredients of an eventual NBA rotation player. Returning to @KentuckyMBB remains an option for last year's National Player of the Year pic.twitter.com/PeCYSNrGTi, Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 28, 2023. For Tshiebwe, the decision on what to do next is more complicated than for most. Yet for all Tshiebwe has meant to Kentucky, his physical skills dictate that, with him as Kentuckys primary post player, the Wildcats (22-12 in 2022-23) do not have the rim protection nor the lob-pass-catching threat at the goal that Caliparis best Kentucky teams have all featured. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. The Athletics Same Vecenie made an appearance on the Game Theory Podcast and talked about what he believes went wrong this season. Email us at seaofblue@gmail.com. The Hogs would be a borderline top-10 team in that scenario. Main Photo: The deadline to apply to become an early-entry candidate for the 2023 NBA Draft has passed, and several prospects soon have tough Oscar Tshiebwe (C, Sr.) Oscar announced on April 7 he will test the waters of the NBA Draft.