Oscar Tshiebwe talks to FCA director Aaron Hogue, right, at the Go Tell America Crusade as pastor Greg Warren listens Sunday night. (Photo by Larry Vaught)
He’s got a hectic schedule that had him in California Saturday, helping with a baptism at Broadway Baptist Church in Lexington Sunday morning, sharing his faith at the Go Tell America Crusade in Harrodsburg Sunday night and in St. Louis Monday accepting the Oscar Robertson Award.
Tshiebwe is also balancing what he’ll do next season. The consensus national player of the year after leading the nation in rebounding and UK in scoring, steals and field goal percentage is contemplating a return to Kentucky versus starting his professional career.
“It is very nice for me not to deal with that and just spend time with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I am very blessed to be able to do this,” Tshiebwe said Sunday night before speaking in Harrodsburg to about 1,000 people. “It is always a good day. You should enjoy every day God gives you because every day is a gift from God.”
Tshiebwe got a huge ovation at the crusade when he was introduced and again when it was mentioned about the possibility of him returning to Kentucky for another season.
“Next year is coming soon. I will be making my decision and it is great to have God guiding me. Everybody will know in a week or two what my next move will be,” Tshiebwe said. “I am going through the NBA process and going to see what it is like. Every day I think about it (his future) and I pray about it every single day.”
Tshiebwe said it was a “blessing” to be in Kentucky playing basketball just like it was to be in Harrodsburg “spreading” the word of God. He made the trip with Aaron Hogue, the multi-area director of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
“God believes in us. God has so many great things for us,” Tshiebwe told the Harrodsburg audience. “His plan is to give you hope. He does not see here. He sees after here. We have a great father who cares about us. God wants you today. He don’t care about what happened yesterday. Jesus Christ is the only way to God. I would love it if you would welcome Jesus into your heart.”
He did share a few basketball thoughts with the very pro-UK crowd, including many who wore either UK shirts/sweatshirts or some in Tshiebwe merchandise from Kentucky Branded.
Tshiebwe averaged 17.4 points and 15.1 rebounds per game this season, becoming the first NCAA Division I player in 42 years to average 15 points and 15 rebounds. He became just the fourth player since 1975 with 500 plus points and 500 plus rebounds in a season. He ended the season with 16 straight double-doubles, the longest UK streak since at least 1969, and had a single-season school record 28 double-doubles.
“When I first came to Kentucky I went to coach Cal and said we got to talk,” Tshiebwe said.
When John Calipari asked what they needed to talk about, Tshiebwe told him he wanted to help UK win a national championship.
“I did not have a dream to win national player of the year. But one thing my mom told me is if you stick with God you can do more than you imagine,” Tshiebwe said. “I stuck with the will of God like my momma taught me.”
“You have to see first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and the rest will be given to you. I see that done for me. I give myself to God and by the end of the year God did all I could have ever imagined. I received so many trophies, something nobody ever did before.”
2 Responses
Oscar just inspires so many of us who are believers. He is a young man I believe God has his hand on.
Oscar, thank you for all you have done at UK. If you should decide to wait on the NBA, you might want to consider transferring to Western and play with Dontaie.