Otega Oweh rejects narrative NIL changed college locker rooms

After going through the NBA Draft Combine/NBA Draft process, All-SEC guard Otega Oweh is returning to Kentucky for his senior season of college basketball. Oweh, who averaged 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists last season, is set to be one of the premier faces of the sport this fall.

That means he can once again earn money through NIL. During a media opportunity on Tuesday, the Newark, NJ native was asked how NIL and money are changing college basketball.

“They’re paying us,” Oweh responded with a laugh. “That’s it. That’s a great thing for sure, but I don’t really be keeping up with the settlement stuff like that. As long as we’re getting paid, that’s good for me. Anything extra, that’s cool.”

The settlement Oweh is referring to is the House settlement. Judge Claudia Wilken approved that last Friday in the U.S. Northern District of California, marking a landmark decision in the history of college sports.

Since the NCAA was founded in 1906, institutions had never directly paid athletes. That will now change with the settlement ushering in the revenue-sharing era of college sports. Beginning July 1, schools will be able to share $20.5 million with athletes, with football expected to receive 75%, followed by men’s basketball (15%), women’s basketball (5%) and the remainder of sports (5%). The amount shared in revenue will increase annually.

That July 1 date is symbolic, as the NIL era began four years prior on July 1, 2021. That was the date that states enacting laws would allow college athletes to monetize their name, image and likeness rights. Since then, NIL collectives have formed, the transfer portal window was created and the House settlement was crafted.

“Nah, because when I came into college, that’s when NIL started,” Oweh said when asked if NIL had changed the locker room dynamic. “That’s what I’m used to, really. I’m a senior now, so the guys after me it’s going to be the same with them. It hasn’t really changed anything for me.”

Oweh, who currently has an On3 NIL valuation of $385k (thought that number is likely to rise), will be one of the senior leaders on Mark Pope‘s second roster at Kentucky.

Kentucky brought in the No. 2-ranked Transfer Portal class this offseason. The Wildcats signed guard Denzel Aberdeen (Florida), forward Mouhamed Dioubate (Alabama), guard Jaland Lowe (Pittsburgh), forward Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State), center Reece Potter (Miami OH) and forward Kam Williams (Tulane).

On3’s Pete Nakos contributed to this report.