As Otega Oweh weighs his decision to either return to college or remain in the NBA Draft, Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope continues to sing his praises — particularly highlighting Oweh’s physical presence and upside.
“Otega’s physicality is elite,” Pope told local media this week. “Both offensively and defensively, it stands out. It shows in how he absorbs contact, in his explosiveness, his quick first step, and in how he fights through screens — on and off the ball — using his chest to create space. In all those areas, he’s as good as you’ll find. He’s a really special player.”
Pope also commended Oweh’s defensive development over the past season, saying he consistently won the point of attack and still has plenty of untapped potential.
“He grew a lot last year in terms of dominating matchups defensively,” Pope said. “Whether it was on-ball or off-ball, he kept getting better. And he’s still just scratching the surface. I think he can evolve into an elite-level playmaker.”
As for the next step in Oweh’s development — whether it happens in Lexington or at the next level — Pope pointed to shooting and defensive versatility.
“One of the things he’s really focused on is getting his shot off quicker,” Pope said. “He shot the ball well — around 36 or 37 percent — but increasing his volume and speed of release is a big step.”
Pope also noted Oweh’s ability to defend bigger players and impact the game on the glass and in passing lanes.
“His potential to neutralize bigs on switches and be disruptive on the glass is huge. And I think he can become one of the elite steals guys in the country,” Pope added. “He’s an incredible player who had a terrific year. It’s fun to talk about him.”
And it’s even more fun to imagine what Oweh might look like with another year in Lexington. Last season, only 76 of his 415 shot attempts came from beyond the arc, though he connected at a solid 35.5%. If he becomes more of a perimeter threat, Oweh could take a major leap — perhaps even into All-American territory.
He already averaged 1.6 steals per game in 2024–25 and thrives in transition. If he can add a reliable pull-up jumper on the break, his offensive game will be even tougher to stop.
Whether he returns to Kentucky or heads to the NBA, one thing is certain: Oweh is a high-level talent. But if he does come back, the Wildcats could be getting one of the most dynamic and versatile players in college basketball.
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