Jaland Lowe, Otega Oweh Early Season Candidates for Naismith
LEXINGTON, Ky. – On the eve of the season opener, Kentucky guards Jaland Lowe and Otega Oweh were recognized as preseason candidates for the Naismith Trophy Men’s Player of the Year, as announced by the organization on Monday.
Oweh has earned several preseason honors, including being tabbed to the NABC Division I Player of the Year award watch list, and being tabbed the Southeastern Conference Preseason Player of the Year by both the media and the league’s coaches. Oweh has also earned preseason All-America distinction by CBS, Blue Ribbon, The Field of 68 and ESPN’s Jay Bilas. Furthermore, Oweh was named to the preseason watch list for the Jerry West Award, which recognizes the top shooting guard in college basketball.
Oweh led the Cats in scoring at 16.2 points per game last season and began the year by topping double figures in each of the first 26 contests and 33 overall. The native of Newark, New Jersey set career-best marks in points per game, rebounds per game (4.7), assists per game (1.7), steals per game (1.6), blocks per game (0.5) and free-throw percentage (.776). In addition to his offensive prowess, Oweh also led the Cats in steals with 57 on the season.
He was a second-team All-SEC selection and earned NABC All-District First-Team honors as a junior.
Lowe is a preseason All-SEC selection and a preseason honoree for the Bob Cousy Award which honors the nation’s top point guard.
He was named to NABC Second Team All-District and was a third-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference performer as a sophomore at Pitt. He led the Panthers in scoring at 16.8 points per game, while also contributing 5.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.
He was one of just eight players in the nation to average at least 16.5 points, 4.0 boards and 5.5 dimes a season ago. Lowe reached double-figure scoring in 26 games and topped the 20-point plateau a team-high 10 times. He registered five or more assists in 19 outings and became the third player in Pitt history to top 500 points and 150 assists in a single season. The Missouri City, Texas native also recorded just the sixth triple-double in program history as a sophomore with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a win at VMI.
UK opens the regular season inside Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center at 7 p.m. on Nov. 4 against Nicholls.
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