Oscar Tshiebwe - Photo by Elliott Hess, UK Athletics
Once Oscar Tshiebwe decided he was going to play his college basketball at West Virginia and not Kentucky, he got a call from Kentucky coach John Calipari.
“He called me and was like, ‘I’m proud of you. You’ve got to go where you feel comfortable. One thing I’ll tell you is keep working. There will be nothing easy in life no matter wherever you go,'” Tshiebwe said.
That’s why Tshiebwe says he’s always had a great relationship with Calipari during his recruitment and continues to have — one reason he knew where he wanted to go once he decided to transfer from West Virginia.
“I always wanted to play for Kentucky and Kentucky was my dream school but why did I change my mind? I’m at West Virginia now. I feel like I was not happy anymore and everything was not good,” Tshiebwe said Wednesday. “I was not laughing. I was not enjoying my time anymore.
“That’s why I said no, this is the time I pray. I prayed because I wanted God to help me with the situation. Most people think I was going to ruin my life. I said no. That’s why I say you cannot listen to what people say. You only listen to what God says in your life.”
Once Tshiebwe announced he was leaving West Virginia midway through his sophomore season in December, the center said he had “everybody in the country” calling to him how much they could help him and “how much they’re going to give me.”
But Tshiebwe said again the coach he wanted to hear from was John Calipari because he thought UK was going to be good.
“I was hoping I could come straight and help this team (last season), but I couldn’t, so I said I can practice. So, be ready for next year. I am so happy to be here,” Tshiebwe said.
