LEXINGTON, Ky. — Otega Oweh is coming back for more. The rising senior confirmed Wednesday afternoon via social media that he will return to the Kentucky basketball program for the 2025–26 season, sharing the message: “I’m back, better now.”
“This past year went beyond anything I imagined,” Oweh said. “Through the ups and downs, I found a forever family in Kentucky. So let’s do it again — I’m staying home.”
When Kentucky head coach Mark Pope spoke to the media on May 13, he noted that he had stayed in close communication with Oweh throughout his decision-making process.
“We’re constantly in touch with all our guys navigating this,” Pope said at the time. “It’s an exciting chapter for them as they explore the draft and what comes next. These are relationships that last a lifetime, and we’re fully engaged every step of the way. It’s exciting for them — and for us.”
Oweh emerged as a leader for the Wildcats last season, averaging a team-high 16.2 points per game while shooting an efficient 49.2 percent from the field. Head coach Mark Pope has consistently praised Oweh’s physicality, calling it “elite.”
“In those ways, he is as good as you’re going to find,” Pope said. “He’s really special. He made tremendous strides last season, especially when it came to consistently winning the point of attack — whether on the ball or off it, his defensive presence really stood out.”
During his mid-May press conference, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope outlined areas where Otega Oweh can continue to elevate his game heading into the 2025–26 season.
“Like all of us, he has so much room to grow,” Pope said. “I think his ceiling as a playmaker — he hasn’t even begun to tap into that. He can become an elite, elite-level playmaker.”
One area Oweh himself has focused on is improving his shooting efficiency and volume. “He shot the ball really well, around 36 or 37 percent, but getting it off more quickly and increasing his attempts is a big deal for him,” Pope added.
Last season, Oweh averaged 11.5 shot attempts per game, including 2.1 from beyond the arc, where he connected at a 35.5 percent clip. On the defensive end, he posted a career-high 1.6 steals per game while continuing to make an impact with his versatility and toughness.
“His ability to neutralize bigs on the glass and on switches is a place where he can really excel,” Pope said. “I think he has a chance to grow into one of the elite steals guys in the country.”
Oweh becomes the fourth player from Kentucky’s 2024–25 Sweet 16 squad to announce his return, joining Brandon Garrison, Collin Chandler, and Trent Noah.
“Guys coming in for their second year with me — almost without fail — take massive leaps,” Pope said. “We expect all these returners to be much, much better than they were last year, which is saying a lot, because they were really good.”
Otega Oweh’s standout moments of his junior season came against his former team, Oklahoma. The ex-Sooner scored 28 points in Norman during the regular season and added 27 points to eliminate Oklahoma in the first round of the SEC Tournament. He sealed both Kentucky victories with game-winning shots.
“I wanted it bad,” Oweh said after his clutch layup in the SEC Tournament. “Coach designed the play to get me driving to the basket and make something happen.”
Otega Oweh notched double-digit points in 33 games during his junior season, including a streak of 26 consecutive games to start the year. His performances against Oklahoma—scoring 28 points in the regular season and 27 in the SEC Tournament—highlighted his impact. He earned NABC All-District First Team and All-SEC Second Team honors and reached the 1,000-point career milestone during the SEC Tournament.
Oweh also set personal bests across multiple categories: 16.2 points per game, 4.7 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game, 1.6 steals per game, 0.5 blocks per game, a .776 free-throw percentage, 27 three-pointers made, 149 free throws made, 204 field goals made, 168 total rebounds, 62 assists, 19 blocks, 57 steals, and 584 total points.
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