Oweh Excited to Be Back at UK for Senior Season

Otega Oweh had an outstanding first season with the Kentucky basketball team in 2024-25. He was the Cats’ leading scorer, averaging 16.2 points per game while leading UK to a 24-12 record and a Sweet 16 appearance.

After such a successful junior campaign, Oweh had a decision to make between going to the NBA and returning to UK. After going through the process, including attending the NBA Combine, Oweh decided to return to school. What made the difference?

“I still could have gone but I had one more year of eligibility and (I wanted to) try to do the things that I didn’t get to complete last year, like win a national championship,” Oweh said. “I feel like we have so much more to complete here.”

He knows that going through the draft process will be beneficial as he returns to UK for his senior season.

“Learning all of the stuff I learned there, then being able to come back, I feel like I can use those things to my advantage,” Oweh said. “I feel like if I continue to work on the things that I know I’ve got to work on, then on top of that, the conditioning and the stamina.”

Unlike last year’s team, which was loaded with seniors and fifth-year players, Oweh will be one of Kentucky’s two seniors this season. He’s prepared to take on a different role.

“It’s a little different,” Oweh said. “I’m just trying to grow into the role I’m going to have this year. Just taking it slow, building those relationships. Just trying to step up and taking that leadership role.”

Oweh admits that he has had to adjust his leadership style.

“I used to always just want to lead by example, but not everybody can always do what you do,” Oweh said. “Just trying to figure out your comfort zone (as a leader) and making things work.”

Another thing that’s different from last year is that the Cats will actually have some returnees who logged significant minutes last season. Oweh is joined by Brandon Garrison, Collin Chandler and Trent Noah. Oweh believes that fact gives this team a solid foundation.

“It’s definitely a good feeling,” Oweh said. “You’ve got a couple of guys you have a close-knit bond with but they also understand what it takes and what you have to do to be successful with.”

As for the rest of the team, Oweh has been impressed with what he has seen from them so far.

“I see like 14, 15 guys who can play,” he said. “You love that, really. We have multiple, multiple guys at each position. I feel like those teams are the ones who do best in March because you can switch up the lineups. We have a lot of talent.”

Even though the team has only been on campus for a short time, Oweh sees the chemistry already developing.

“We started clicking really quickly,” Oweh said. “We haven’t started workouts yet, but we’ve seen everybody in gym every single day, multiple times a day. I feel like Coach Pope does a good job of recruiting good guys.”

Oweh sees potentially big things ahead for the 2025-26 Cats.

“We have a lot of guys who could get big accolades this summer,” Oweh said. “If we win the natty, everyone’s going to get what they want. That was the biggest thing for me. It felt like unfinished business.”

Having Oweh back in the fold will be a boost to resolving the team’s unfinished business.