Field Level Media
01 Jun 2023, 05:10 GMT+10
Kentucky senior forward Oscar Tshiebwe, the 2021-22 consensus national player of the year, announced Wednesday on Instagram that he will remain in the 2023 NBA draft.
Tshiebwe could have returned to Kentucky and use the extra fifth year of NCAA eligibility granted to all athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead, he will see if his name is called in the draft, which occurs on June 22, though the 6-foot-9 forward from the Congo is projected as no better than a second-round selection, if that.
He had entered the draft in early April and had until midnight Wednesday to make the decision final.
"First, I would like to thank God for the many blessings he has shown me," Tshiebwe posted on Instagram. "I know I wouldn't be here without him guiding me through this journey of life. Second, I would like to thank my family and closest friends for everything they have sacrificed in getting to this point in my life. I would like to thank Coach Cal (John Calipari) and his staff for their support and belief in me during my life at UK. Lastly, I would like to thank BBN for the love, support, and loyalty you have given me and my teammates over the years. I wouldn't want to play for anyone or anywhere else."
Tshiebwe swept the six awards given to the player of the year in college basketball in 2021-22, when he averaged 17.4 points, 15.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per game in his first season with the Wildcats, when he started all 34 games.
In 2022-23, he followed that up with averages of 16.5 points, 13.7 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks per contest in 32 games (30 starts). He led the NCAA in rebounding in both his seasons with the Wildcats.
In 107 career games (105 starts) split between West Virginia (2019-21) and Kentucky, Tshiebwe posted 14.5 points and 12.3 rebounds per game and shot 57.3 percent from the floor.
While at Kentucky, his 952 career rebounds left him sixth in program history and are also the most ever by a Kentucky player through two seasons with the school.
--Field Level MediaGet a daily dose of Herald Globe news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Herald Globe.
More InformationOMAHA BEACH, France: Eighty-one years after the D-Day landings, a small group of World War II veterans has returned to the beaches...
BEIJING, China: The public security bureau in Guangzhou, a city in China, has announced a secret reward for more than 20 people it...
THE HAGUE - The International Criminal Court (ICC) has strongly condemned the United States for imposing sanctions on four of its judges,...
LOS ANGELES, California: As obesity rates among American teenagers climb to historic levels, more families and doctors are cautiously...
BERLIN, Germany: Germany has taken its first significant fiscal step to jumpstart its slowing economy. This week, the cabinet approved...
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan's army said on June 4 that its security forces raided a militant hideout and killed 14 insurgents during...
Tumkur (Karnataka) [India], June 9 (ANI): Devraj, father of deceased Manoj Kumar, who died in the Bengaluru stampede incident among...
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 9 (ANI): Indian cricketer Rinku Singh and Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj got engaged in a ceremony...
Tumkur (Karnataka) [India], June 9 (ANI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has said that the details regarding the Bengaluru...
Mysore (Karnataka) [India], June 8 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said the government is seriously considering moving...
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 8 (ANI): Indian cricketer Rinku Singh and Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj got engaged in a ceremony...
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 8 (ANI): Former Indian cricketer Piyush Chawla expressed faith in new-look Indian squad for the...