Otega Oweh Is Back: Star Guard Withdraws from NBA Draft to Return to Kentucky for Senior Season

Otega Oweh is officially returning to Lexington.

Just before the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline on Wednesday, the standout guard announced he will be pulling his name out of the 2025 NBA Draft and suiting up for one more season with the Kentucky Wildcats. The decision gives head coach Mark Pope a complete 14-man roster heading into his second year at the helm—and keeps Kentucky’s biggest weapon in blue and white.

“I’m back better now,” Oweh posted on Instagram, sending waves of excitement through Big Blue Nation.

Following a breakout junior season in which he averaged 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and shot 49.2% from the field, Oweh is poised to enter the 2025-26 season as a top contender for SEC Preseason Player of the Year. The 6-foot-5 guard, who transferred from Oklahoma and earned All-SEC Second Team honors last season, had until 11:59 p.m. ET to finalize his decision—and he chose another run in Rupp Arena.

With Oweh’s return, Kentucky’s roster now features four returning players, three high-profile freshmen, six key transfer additions, and one international prospect. But none are as impactful as Oweh, whose leadership, clutch performances, and all-around game make him the centerpiece of Kentucky’s championship hopes.

In his first year as a Wildcat, Oweh posted career-highs across the board:

• 16.4 points per game

• 4.7 rebounds per game

• 1.7 assists per game

• 1.6 steals per game

• Shooting splits: 52.2% on two-pointers, 35.5% from three, and 77.6% from the line

He also became a fan favorite for his heroics against his former team. Oweh hit two game-winning shots against Oklahoma—first on the road in February, then again in the SEC Tournament opener. He dropped 28 and 27 points in those games, cementing his reputation as Kentucky’s go-to closer.

While he had the option to turn pro, Oweh’s return is viewed as a win-win. Another strong season in the SEC could further elevate his NBA stock, while also helping Kentucky reassert itself as a national contender. The Wildcats, now bolstered by Oweh’s return, are expected to enter the season ranked in the top 15.

For Oweh, it’s one more year to dominate college basketball. For Kentucky, it might just be the missing piece to chase banner No. 9.

Kentucky Crowned Transfer Portal Royalty

Kentucky Crowned Transfer Portal Royalty: CBS Sports Names Wildcats One of Offseason’s Biggest Winners

The bluebloods are back in business  and CBS Sports has taken notice. After an electric offseason that saw Kentucky head coach Mark Pope overhaul and supercharge the Wildcats’ roster, the program has been officially named one of the biggest winners of the 2025 transfer portal cycle.

In a list compiled by David Cobb of CBS Sports, Kentucky sits at the very top, outshining the rest of the nation with a class that boasts five top-60 transfers, a trio of top-40 high school recruits, and the return of key rotational pieces with unfinished business in Lexington.

Pope didn’t just reload  he reimagined what Kentucky basketball can look like in the modern era. After losing five double-digit scorers to graduation, Pope hit the portal hard and came away with elite-level reinforcements. “Kentucky went shopping in the luxury aisle,” Cobb wrote, “and came away with some high-end portal additions.”

The New Faces of the Bluegrass

The headliner of Kentucky’s transfer class is Jayden Quaintance, the No. 12 overall transfer in the country. After a standout freshman season at Arizona State where he averaged 2.6 blocks per game, the 6-foot-10 forward is expected to anchor the paint with tenacity and athleticism. Pair him with former Alabama forward Mouhamed Dioubate, a high-energy bruiser who shot over 61% from the field and an impressive 46% from three, and the Wildcats suddenly have a frontcourt that’s both terrifying and modern.

Jaland Lowe, the Pitt transfer who averaged 16.8 points and 5.5 assists per game, steps in to fill the point guard role. His ability to control tempo and distribute the ball will be critical for a roster packed with weapons. Kam Williams (Tulane) and Denzel Aberdeen (Florida) bring efficient scoring and spacing to the perimeter, rounding out a portal class loaded with firepower.

International big man Andrija Jelavic and former Miami (OH) forward Reece Potter add size, shooting, and depth to an already potent frontcourt.

A Foundation of Stability

While Kentucky’s portal success has made headlines, Pope’s ability to retain key contributors from last season shouldn’t be overlooked. Otega Oweh, who led the team with 16.2 points per game last season, is currently testing the NBA Draft waters but could return to Lexington as one of the SEC’s premier scorers. His presence would elevate Kentucky’s ceiling even further.

Other returnees include Brandon Garrison, a versatile big man with excellent passing instincts; Trent Noah, a skilled sophomore forward; and Collin Chandler, a developing perimeter threat. Their experience and familiarity with Pope’s system provide a critical foundation for the incoming talent.

The Next Generation Arrives

The Wildcats also welcome a strong freshman class featuring Malachi Moreno, the 7-foot in-state star from Great Crossing High School; Jasper Johnson, a silky-smooth scorer from Overtime Elite; and Braydon Hawthorne, a high-upside wing from Huntington Prep. All three bring long-term upside and positional versatility, and will have time to develop thanks to the program’s overwhelming depth.

Depth, Versatility, and a New Identity

In total, Kentucky enters the 2025–26 season with 14 scholarship players who offer a remarkable blend of size, skill, experience, and youth. On3 currently ranks Kentucky No. 2 nationally in transfer portal team rankings, taking into account both incoming talent and outgoing losses  which, in Kentucky’s case, were limited to just Kerr Kriisa and Travis Perry.

It’s clear the Wildcats didn’t just plug holes they built a machine. One capable of switching one through five, stretching defenses with shooting, locking down the rim with elite length, and most importantly, playing the up-tempo, unselfish brand of basketball Pope envisioned when he took the job.

Year Two Momentum

“Year 1 under coach Mark Pope showed proof of concept,” Cobb wrote, “and now the Wildcats are poised to keep building after a strong offseason.”

There’s a buzz growing in Lexington  and beyond. The roster construction has been praised across the national media landscape, and if Otega Oweh returns, it’s hard to find a more complete team in college basketball.

The message from CBS Sports is clear: Kentucky is not just back they’re ready to chase banners.

And with a stacked roster, a clear vision, and a fan base starving for postseason glory, the Wildcats aren’t sneaking up on anyone. They’re storming the gates.

Get ready, college basketball. The Cats are coming.