Barry Bedlan, Associated Press global director of text and new market products, presents Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe with the AP Player of the Year award in New Orleans Friday. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
No matter how many awards he gets — and he has a lot of them — Oscar Tshiebwe remains the same humble, gentle giant that dominated college basketball in his own way this year.
The Kentucky junior was named the Associated Press Player of the Year and and then the U.S. Basketball Writers Association most outstanding player during ceremonies in New Orleans during Final Four ceremonies.
He had already been named player of the year by The Sporting News and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Here’s what Tshiebwe said after getting the USBW award, the longest consistently presented award in college basketball history;
“First of all, I would like to thank God, because I feel like you cannot get without him. If I did not trust God and let him lead me in everything I do,” said Tshiebwe.
“And second, I would love to thank my coaches and everybody on the staff for always believing in me and always work with me through the process. My teammates, I thank my teammates for everything, too, because I could not do it on my own. I needed somebody like my teammates to encourage, to be with me in everything we’ve done together.
“And I’m very grateful to be here. And I thank the organization for choosing me as player of the year. I’m very thankful for them too. And I’m very happy to be here. Very happy, and I’m very excited. This is one of the things, like, it is everybody’s dream to receive that trophy right there. But I’m sitting right here receiving that trophy. That makes me feel very happy and I’m really grateful for everything.”
God bless you Oscar Tshiebwe. You are a breath of fresh air everyday for anyone who knows you or comes into contact with you. How could you not love the Democratic Republic of the Congo native who averaged 17.4 points, nation best 15.1 rebounds, 1.6 blocked shots and 1.6 steals per game — all team highs.
No other major college player averaged as many steals and blocks per game as him this year. He was the first Division I player to average at least 15 points and 15 rebounds in 42 years and first major conference player who averaged at least 16 points and 15 rebounds in 49 years.
He was a good player at West Virginia before transferring to Kentucky midway of his sophomore season but blossomed with the Wildcats.
“I think the reason is because I really went through a lot. And I knew who I was because I’m a hard worker,” Tshiebwe said about his improvement. “I can work and I can show people what I can do by trusting in God. I just work harder and believe that people, God has put me in their hands to help me.
“And I never stop fighting. I fight until the end. We ended up doing something special, never quit, never stop fighting. I always fight until the end.”
He helped Kentucky go 25-6 this year and earn a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Coach John Calipari told Andy Katz of NCAA.com Friday in New Orleans that everyone was “devastated” by the NCAA loss but it was time to move on “being here for him (Tshiebwe), it’s a big deal for me.”
Even though he’s the consensus national player of the year, Tshiebwe is still considered a mid-second round pick in most NBA mock drafts as he weighs his career options for next season.
“I trust coach, he has done it better than anyone I know. This moment – we just finished the season and we are going through a lot – just taking my time, praying to God, and talking to Coach. I have not made a decision yet – going or leaving,” Tshiebwe told Katz when asked about his future.
Calipari said he would be “sad” if Tshiebwe leaves because he would like to coach him another year but would be happy for Tshiebwe, who wants to bring his mother to the United States.
“If he chooses to come back – let’s win a national title, let’s go,” Calipari told Katz during the interview. “He’s got to do what’s right for him and we’ve got to have everything in place so he can make the kind of decision that’s the best thing for him.”
Calipari is right. Kentucky owes it to Tshiebwe to do anything it can to help him with potential name, image and likeness earnings if he wants to come back and also do everything possible to help him evaluate his professional options.
Considering all Tshiebwe has done for UK on and off the court, that’s the least Kentucky can do for him.
One Response
If You are the National Player of the Year and play with all stars but have a coach that says You did something that hasn’t been done in 50 Years but can’t get You passed the first round of the tournament why would You stay? Good Luck in The Chinese NBA.