Otega Oweh addresses rumor that he will return to Kentucky if not a first round pick guarantee

The expectation so far this offseason has been that Otega Oweh would be back at Kentucky after testing for the 2025 NBA Draft. However, while that may still be true by the end, that’s not where his focus is right now.

Oweh answered questions with the media, like Aaron Fentress of Oregon Live, after a pre-draft workout on Thursday with the Portland Trailblazers. When asked to clarify if he’s just testing or fully in on the draft, he made himself very clear that he’s “all in” on this process right now, with there still being a want to be a first-round pick, in hopes of making it into the NBA.

“Nah, I’m all in,” said Oweh. “I have one more year of eligibility but, you know, my goal is to play in the NBA. So, I’m not doing this process one foot in, one foot out. I’m all in, for sure.”

“I wouldn’t say it’s completely false but I believe I’m a first-round guy,” Oweh said of if being a first-round selection would make a difference for him. “I’m just gonna go through these workouts, give it my all and then, when it’s all said and done, I’ll see where I’m at and then I’ll make that decision.”

This was expected to be simple for the Wildcats as far as Oweh goes. He entered his name into the draft about a month ago while maintaining that eligibility with most expecting him to test for teams, get feedback, and return to the bluegrass, especially if he wasn’t to be a first-rounder. Over the past week, though, Oweh has seen some things trend his way as far as his professional future. He got an invite to the NBA Draft Combine for next week in Chicago while his name has also begun to appear in a mock or two. The consensus remains that he’s a second-round prospect but, that said, it’s now more of a question as to what he’ll do with his name at the draft deadline on May 28th.

This comes after Oweh had a career-year as a junior in his first season at Kentucky. He appeared in all 36 games and averaged 16.2 points (49.2% FG, 35.5% 3PT), 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.6 steals, which led the Wildcats in scoring and steals while being second in rebounding. That earned him a selection as Second Team All-SEC in helping lead the Wildcats to a 24-12 record and an appearance in the Sweet 16.

If Oweh came back, he’d enter his senior year as a possible honoree as Preseason SEC Player of the Year or even national recognition as Preseason All-American. Still, for now, he’s not even considering any of that as he’s currently trying to prove to teams that he can be in the league now rather than later.

“I’m gonna go out there and, you know, I just play hard and make winning plays. I’m a two-way force so, you know, in these workouts, that’s what I’m trying to show, you know, in the short window we have,” Oweh said. “Just trying to be intense and show that I have high energy.”

Oweh has a decision that is among the last roster news for the program with the thought having been that he’d be back in Lexington. Even so, with this, Big Blue Nation will be keeping a much closer eye on his process with these statements ahead of this choice within the next three weeks.