Otega Oweh's return to Kentucky puts him in rarefied air

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Feb 26, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Otega Oweh (00) gestures after scoring against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Especially over the last 15 years at Kentucky, it’s not often that someone who averages 16 points per game comes back for another season in the blue and white. But with the help of NIL, college basketball is able to retain top-end talent more often than it has in decades.

For example, Otega Oweh‘s decision to come back for a senior campaign in Lexington is massive for Mark Pope‘s second season coaching the Wildcats. Oweh, who earned Second-Team All-SEC in 2024-25, will begin next season as an All-American candidate and a top choice for Preseason SEC Player of the Year. With the 6-foot-5 guard leading the charge, UK will likely begin the 2025-26 season as a top 10 program.

UK statistician Corey Price dove into some historical numbers to find out just how rare it is for someone as productive and talented as Oweh to return after such a special season.

According to Price’s research, Oweh becomes just the third Kentucky player over the last 40 years to return for another season after posting minimum per-game averages of 16 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks in the previous year. He joins pretty impressive company: Tony Delk (1993-94) and Reggie Hanson (1989-90).

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That’s a solid duo of former Wildcats to be mentioned alongside. But that stat is also a bit cherry-picked. If we want to shrink the requirements, Oweh’s return is still something we don’t see often in Lexington. RareRookies (@rarerookies) discovered that only seven Kentucky players since 1992 have come back for another season after averaging 16 points per game the season prior. A couple of guys even did it twice.

Otega Oweh (2024-25)
Oscar Tshiebwe (2022-23)
Patrick Patterson (2008-09, 2009-10)
Keith Bogans (2001-02)
Tayshaun Prince (2001-02)
Tony Delk (1994-95, 1995-96)
Jamal Mashburn (1992-93)

Kentucky’s one-and-done approach with five-star freshmen under former head coach John Calipari meant that the Big Blue Nation didn’t see many of the team’s best players stick around for another season. But with NIL being used as a recruiting pitch and Pope’s eagerness to build continuity with his rosters, this list might continue to grow over the coming years.