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Otega Oweh hasn’t made up his mind regarding his future, but was “just going through the process” at the NBA Combine in Chicago this week.
“It’s the combine,” Oweh told the Lexington Herald-Leader earlier this week. “This is what you dream about. I remember when I was younger, I was watching all this stuff. And now I’m in it. So it’s just a great situation. And I’m just blessed to be here. The experience has been amazing.”
Oweh has had meetings and workouts with several NBA teams, including the Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets and the Portland Trailblazers. In two scrimmages this week, Oweh scored 24 points, eight rebounds and just two turnovers in 47 minutes. He also had four assists.
“They went really well (and) I got a lot of good feedback,” Oweh said. “It was a lot of just playing. And, you know, I love playing. Those workouts went really, really well. I’m just using this whole process to get as much feedback as I can. And whatever they tell me, that’s how I’ll make my decision.”
The feedback has been positive for Oweh and the Kentucky guard knows more work needs to be done to reach elite status.
“It’s kind of no doubt that I could play at the next level,” he said. “But it’s just the little things that they’re still trying to see. Overall, a lot of guys have just been high on me, on my game. And they’ve given me a lot of jewels that I can implement my game with.”
Oweh plans to “enjoy” the process and take his time before deciding whether or not to remain in the NBA Draft. The deadline is May 28.
“You only get to do this so many times,” he said. “Being able to go to these different states and play and compete with these guys in their own facilities — it’s a great thing.
“I’m trying to do as much as I can before I make that decision, and get as much feedback as I can, and just have as many eyes see me. So I don’t have a timetable, specifically, but I feel like maybe once the Combine is done, I’ll probably know more about which way I’m leaning.”
If he decides to return to Lexington, Oweh added that he’s “got a good situation back at Kentucky if I do choose to go back.
“Either way, I’m just thankful to be here (at the combine),” Oweh said.
9 Responses
Thanks for the first year! Best to you!
Oweh is doing exactly what he should be doing. Getting these Owners to see him and talk to him is the perfect thing to do. This year when he’s playing for Kentucky they will be more tuned in and watching him. They are giving him the advice that I would give him. They are telling him to work on his passing and shooting. Defensively he’s already NBA ready. His offense needs to be polished. A quicker release on his 3 pointer and looking for the open man more. This will upgrade Owehs game to another level. Watch out if he starts averaging 3-4 assist per game you can’t tell me he’s not one of the top 15 players in college basketball. If he improves his 3 and his passing he will easily be a top 5 player in college basketball. Oweh has improved every year in college. That’s what NBA type players do. If someone averages the same ppg or near the same ppg they aren’t improving. His numbers speak for themself. He went from 7 ppg as a freshman to 11.5 ppg as a sophomore then 16.3 ppg as a junior at Kentucky and even if he only improves by a point or 2 a game now and completes the rest of his game he will be on track to be a first round pick and if he’s not then these Owners are drinking the koolaid.
You’re exactly right about his passing & shooting. Last season, he cost UK a lot of possessions because he SELDOM was willing to pass, so he didn’t even look for others. He & Jaxsonhad the lowest efficiency (ANE) of any of the players who averaged more than 10 minutes. They both hogged the ball and as the season moved along, the unwillingness to share the ball impacted the entire team.
They both hogged A:TO ratio tells the story. The bench in a hurry is the ONLY cure.
Hi defense is excellent. No doubt about it! Hard working at both ends of the floor. Share the ball and practice more & more 3’s and he can complete his game to be amazing.
Terry and Little Baron, Owen did win us some games that the cats should have not and always gave 100% each game. He came out and shine that no one predicted keep that in mind and you guys want to complain about his playing. He was rob of not been on the first team SEC team in my opinion.
Oh I’m not denying he won us a couple of a games. Single handed against Oklahoma twice he actually won the game for us because the rest of the team couldn’t make a shot or get open. He has a tendency to get tunnel vision to the basket but is already starting to pass the ball more in the NBA camps because he was told to work on it in college. Which will take Owehs game to the next level. There is no denying his talent. With Oweh Aberdeen Mo D JQ and Chandler on defense it will get scary each player can completely shut there man down. Chandler got better every game also Williams is a lock down defender and Noah actually held his own on the defensive end as a true freshman and he will improve every game this year. 26-27 of Johnson and Chandler is going to be a scary good back court.
Oweh won some games, virtually single handed. That’s great & more than anyone could predict. He played phenomenal defense. He gave 110% every game. All those facts make him one of the players with the most potential for next season if he returns.
Every player has some room for improvement to complete their set of skills. Shooing AND HITTING the 3 is major for Oweh. And then, Passing the ball will make him a complete player. All
The UK players were very sad shooting layups. Too many crazy attempts inside and therefore missed layups. That applies to Oweh, too.
Passing is the key to team ball for every player. Just one guy not passing will disrupt the team chemistry, flow, balance and productivity on offemse.
Oweh is projected to be a very late second round pick. It would be in his best interest to come back to Kentucky, work on the things that need work, and be a first round pick next year. This team will be better than last year; Oweh won’t have to carry the team. He will make more money from NIL, he will be a first team all SEC player, and will get drafted in the first round.
I am very happy Oweh is doing well in the combine. He will get great feedback on how to improve his game for the next level. And if (please) he comes back to Kentucky, look out SEC and the rest of college basketball – he will have arrived and be FANTASTIC. Good luck Otega no matter your decision. We love you and you will forever be a Kentucky Wildcat.
I read where Pope signed Braydon Hawthorne, a 6’8", 175 small forward for this year. Does that mean that Oweh is not coming back?