Oscar Tshiebwe wins AP Men's College Player of the Year

Two down, two more to go for Big O.

On Friday afternoon, The Associated Press named Kentucky All-American center Oscar Tshiebwe as the organization’s Men’s College Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season. The one-time West Virginia transfer earned 46 of the 60 possible first-place votes as he became just the second Wildcat in program history to earn AP Player of the Year honors, joining Anthony Davis back in 2012.

“It is amazing to be join somebody like Anthony Davis,” Tshiebwe said in the press release. “And that gives me confidence and gives me more help for my future, too, for what I’m trying to do and what I’m trying to accomplish. I’m just putting God first because God knows what I need, and he has great plans for me.”

Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis came in second with 10 votes while Iowa’s Keegan Murray (three votes) and Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn (one vote) rounded out the first-place votes.

BREAKING: Oscar Tshiebwe of @KentuckyMBB is the Associated Press men’s college basketball player of the year.

Full story: https://t.co/USedzaTZEn

Tshiebwe shares key advice he received from his father: pic.twitter.com/UsXmb4lhgg

— The Associated Press (@AP) April 1, 2022

Tshiebwe became the first player in over 40 years to average at least 15 points and 15 rebounds across an entire season, settling on year-long figures of 17.4 points and 15.1 rebounds across 34 outings for the ‘Cats. He also shot 60.6 percent from the floor and 69.1 percent from the free-throw line as he’s hauled in two trophy cases worth of awards since the season came to a close.

This is now the second major National Player of the Year award that Tshiebwe has received, matching his NABC National Player of the Year honor from earlier in the week. The two big ones left are the Naismith and Wooden NPOY Awards, which are expected to announce their winners in the near future. Tshiebwe is also in the running for the USBWA National Player of the Year award and has already taken home the Sporting News Player of the Year honor.

Below is an extensive list of every award or recognition that Tshiebwe has earned this season.

AP Men’s College Player of the Year
NABC National Player of the Year
NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year
NCAA Consensus All-America First Team
USBWA First-Team All-America
NABC First-Team All-America
Associated Press First-Team All-America
Sporting News First-Team All-America
NABC All-District 20 First Team
Southeastern Conference Player of the Year (coaches/media)
All-SEC First Team (coaches/media)
All-SEC Defensive Team (coaches)
USBWA District IV Player of the Year
USBWA All-District IV team
USA Today National Player of the Year
USA Today First-Team All-American
The Athletic’s National Player of the Year
Sports Illustrated First-Team All-American
The Field of 68 National Player of the Year
The Field of 68 First-Team All-America
College Hoops Today National Player of the Year
USA Today SEC Player of the Year
USA Today First-Team All-SEC unanimous selection
Wooden Award All-American

A BIG congrats to Oscar!