If Oscar Tshiebwe is able to earn substantial NIL money, the odds of him staying at Kentucky dramatically increase. (Photo by Vicky Graff)
Kentucky fans not only are some of the most passionate fans in college sports, but they are also some of the best informed and when they don’t know something, they ask questions.
Here’s an email I got this week from a Kentucky fan:
“I, nor any of my UK friends that I have talked to about this, do not understand what the issue is with Oscar’s visa and his inability to secure NIL deals. Whatever the issue is, I thought I read a month or so ago that the issue had been resolved; now we are reading that it has not been resolved. So, what is the issue?
“And if securing NIL deals is critical for Oscar to come back to UK next year why in the world are people — meaning the right people at UK — not working to quickly resolve the matter. Help.”
Oscar Tshiebwe is the consensus national player of the year. He’s going to seek feedback from the NBA on his draft status but is not yet projected as a first-round draft pick. However, because he’s not a U.S. citizen, there are a lot of limits on his earning capability through name, image and likeness.
No one at UK has publicly shared what the holdback has been for the native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He could not cash in on his immense popularity and endorsement capability during his record-breaking season because of his student visa that keeps him from working and risking deportation.
It did seem like a few weeks ago the NIL issues for Tshiebwe had been resolved. However, speculation has been that one deal caused some concern and all his NIL activity was put on hold to protect him.
Several UK sources say an acceptable alternative has been found and it seems like at least some NIL money is again possible for him. If true, that certainly could make it a lot easier for him to stay at Kentucky another year. If a way is found for him to also do autograph signings, TV commercials and promotional photos like other players can, then the chances of a return to UK get even better.
It’s hard to imagine any business that would not think Tshiebwe is the perfect product endorser. He’s talented, personable and genuine. Everyone loves him.
And I still think if he’s able to find a way to get his mother to the United States, that helps UK because if he stays at Kentucky that would give her at least a year in Lexington where Tshiebwe is already right at home.
12 Responses
What stops Oscar from applying for U.S. citizenship?
The NCAA is against anything Kentucky. He chose KY and that is likely the main reason he is penalized. Mark Emmert hates KY with every ounce of his being. End the corrupting now!!!!
Its not the NCAA, its the federal government. He risks deportation if he works on a student visa.
I think this has more to do with federal law
Yesterday he announced that he has a deal with Kentucky brand. Sounds like the problem maybe solved, if that’s the case this could swing him back to play another year
Why can’t a go fund me account be established to get his mom here?
I think the NCAA ruled that was not allowed for Oscar or anyone else
The NCAA, and Emmert, are not involved. It is the U.S. Government.
There should be no reason he cannot earn money like everyone else. They let everyone else into our country with nothing said but here is a great young man and super basketball player that can do nothing but good and they won’t help him at all. Makes me sick. Oscar is an amazing person inside and out. Clear all the obstacles and let him make the money he deserves and bring his mother here to the U.S. I love Oscar and the amazing young man he is.
If Oscar is now on a student visa and is subject to deportation because he earns some NIL $$$s what happens if he goes to the NBA and earns NBA $$$s?
Will his student visa then expire?
If so, what kind of visa would he get and how long does that take?
Could he get that same type of new visa, sign a nice NIL deal, bring his mother to Lexington, pay his own tuition to UK for a year using some NIL $$$s, have another spectacular year and improve his NBA draft status and then move on to the NBA?
Since the NBA drafts a lot of "foreign" players each year and gets them into the USA to play ball it seems to me that there has to be a possible alternative to the student visa limitation.
Any thoughts on this?
Way too complicated for me to know or answer
He applies for and receives a USA work visa in one of the special categories for entertainers and athletes.