Oweh update

Eccain01

All-Conference
Dec 20, 2020
1,511
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Think he’ll probably come back but I wouldn’t be shocked if he left. He clearly wants to go and if we are being honest he’s never getting a first round guarantee whether he comes back or not.
 

Eagles_Ball_69

All-Conference
Dec 19, 2003
2,901
3,713
82
I'm like 90% sure you need a VPN to see that stuff in Kentucky now... That or a really close friend group.
Spent a week at my in laws in northern AL. My crapper time was a fraction of what it is in MO. My wife just thought it was because I was on a road game. If she only knew…
 
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9N9

Senior
Feb 23, 2025
200
552
0
His brother Odafe, a professional athlete with the Baltimore Ravens, has an in-depth understanding of the professional sports industry. He recognizes that Otega is not yet prepared for the NBA and will likely advise him to return to college, secure a guaranteed contract, and refine his skills.
 
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mebeblue2

Heisman
Dec 20, 2009
98,152
10,574
0
I'm thinking maybe he signed scholarship papers or something like the HS players started doing instead of signing letters of intent which were more binding. Otherwise, what the heck is the point in even having portal dates if you can just commit anywhere only to keep fielding offers and transfer again when the mood strikes?
i believe the portal date is when you can enter the portal, not sign with a team
 
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BlueMist24

Junior
Nov 29, 2018
147
353
0
I feel like the report of “very good feedback” was intentionally put out to try to stir up some drama on his return. I’m thinking Yaxel Lendeborg put something out to make everyone believe he was leaning toward the draft as well, to stir drama, and the next day decided to go to Michigan even with a guaranteed first round grade.
 
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Titpwhami2014

All-American
Feb 17, 2018
3,466
8,448
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He’s coming back. No inside sources, UK players have a history of dragging this out to the final minute. Common sense will prevail again.
 
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JPFisher

Heisman
Jul 24, 2013
6,413
11,868
113
Its Been A Long Time Waiting GIF
 
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Son_Of_Saul

Heisman
Dec 7, 2007
44,442
94,682
113
His brother Odafe, a professional athlete with the Baltimore Ravens, has an in-depth understanding of the professional sports industry. He recognizes that Otega is not yet prepared for the NBA and will likely advise him to return to college, secure a guaranteed contract, and refine his skills.
Yes, and his brother has an $11.3 million dollar contract right now.

Being around that type of money will make Otega want some of his own. Kentucky offers that for a season. The NBA does not.

He'll announce his return today.
 

Jacket4

Senior
Sep 18, 2008
499
586
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His brother Odafe, a professional athlete with the Baltimore Ravens, has an in-depth understanding of the professional sports industry. He recognizes that Otega is not yet prepared for the NBA and will likely advise him to return to college, secure a guaranteed contract, and refine his skills.
Or his brother is telling him to go ahead and go, that the risk of going back to college and having a major injury is too high…

I don’t know, but the point being no one knows what his family is telling him, unless you have a direct relationship with them.
 

Dr.LutherSan

All-American
Sep 6, 2019
3,575
6,643
113
Or his brother is telling him to go ahead and go, that the risk of going back to college and having a major injury is too high

I don’t know, but the point being no one knows what his family is telling him, unless you have a direct relationship with them.
Jaxson Robinson could be telling him the same thing.
 
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GoBigBlue1224

All-Conference
Jan 19, 2020
996
1,475
45
Oweh was a stud last year. Best player on a good Kentucky team. Most consistent. Took a big leap from his year at Oklahoma to UK and expect the same thing from last season to this one. For some reason Oweh doesn’t get the credit he deserves. I’m still confused on the people who think he isn’t a NBA athlete. It’s not always about skill when you get drafted. His shot is ugly but his overall game and athleticism and the way he carries his self will earn him a long career as a role player imo. Time will tell
He reminds me Michael Kidd Gilchrist. Great athlete, but shot seems broken. Not as broken as MKG lol.
 
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Runt#1969

All-American
Dec 13, 2010
20,641
7,772
113
I'm certain the smartest thing for Oweh is coming back and stepping up his game next year to an all american level. He's capable of that. Provided he does that, how much higher is his ceiling ?

Obviously, a lot higher. If he becomes the best player on the best team, where would that end up placing him on the draft board next year ? He is capable, and I would add I like his work ethic, and he has the coach that will get him there.

We shall see. I'm just quietly confident to sit back and watch all this and think he gonna' be back, but I've been wrong before....
 

Kats23

All-American
Nov 21, 2007
8,683
5,913
63
I thought he would be back this entire time, but now that we've reached deadline day and no return announcement, it doesn't feel like he's going to stay. Nothing is going to change in the next 16 hours to sway your decision one way or the other
 

anon1751545683

All-American
Dec 14, 2020
4,722
6,268
0
I'm certain the smartest thing for Oweh is coming back and stepping up his game next year to an all american level. He's capable of that. Provided he does that, how much higher is his ceiling ?

Obviously, a lot higher. If he becomes the best player on the best team, where would that end up placing him on the draft board next year ? He is capable, and I would add I like his work ethic, and he has the coach that will get him there.

We shall see. I'm just quietly confident to sit back and watch all this and think he gonna' be back, but I've been wrong before....
If Oweh truly believes he’s going to get better then the smart move is to get the NBA clock started to that second contract.

If Oweh is the player that he will be then the smart move is to return to college and make as much money as he can in NIL before beating around in the D league or overseas.

So which is he? A made player or a player on the rise?
 

TFCat11

All-American
Mar 25, 2019
5,128
8,762
108
I’m 85% sure OO will return, however if he doesn’t, Pope will grab one of Watkins, Haggerty, or Lewis to replace him. I have ZERO doubt!
 

rick64

Heisman
Jan 25, 2007
24,068
32,757
113
Sounds like he's got one more workout today, then he'll have to make his decision. If he's not a lock to be a 1st round pick, then if I were him I'd really think long and hard about coming back to UK. But who knows, he may be willing to roll the dice and stay in the draft.
 
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Digger-Cat

All-Conference
Oct 31, 2024
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Not necessarily. Anything can happen and he could easily regress in terms of stats and production. He also only gets a year older.

Sure there are. Hell, Chris Livingston was the last pick a couple of years ago and got a 7 million dollar deal for 3 years with 2 years guaranteed. Go look at the last 3 - 4 drafts and around half of the 2nd rd picks got guaranteed deals.


Longer term deal. Several 2nd rd picks have been getting guaranteed deals the last few years. Multiple years there could net more than 1 year here. His prospects can decrease just as easy as they increased. Jaxson Robinson was getting 2nd rd buzz last year, came back and had a good year. However, you don't really see his name on draft boards this year. He very likely could have missed his opportunity to get drafted. That is something oweh is very likely
Considering.

Lots of things can happen in a year. Injuries being the biggest. Also, he only gets older and the league doesn't like older.
The 'he's a year older' thing, is mainly for the guys that are in line to get a lottery pick. Plenty of 4th and 5th year seniors are making NBA rosters and they're doing it because they improved enough at the college level.

Walter Clayton is a prime example. If he went to the draft in '24, he doesn't get drafted, but now, he's a first round pick.

Facts are facts, Oweh isn't even going to get a 2 way deal, at best, he is the last pick of the 2nd round. He will be making less than $100k a year in the GL. That same deal will easily be available next year, AFTER he makes a big bag of money at UK. Heck, if he improves enough, which he would need to do, he would get a much better deal in '26.

Unless something strange happens, there is no deal on the table for OO right now, so my point stands, he can get the same thing next year that he's getting this year. In reality, he can only go up from here.
 
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anon1751545683

All-American
Dec 14, 2020
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The 'he's a year older' thing, is mainly for the guys that are in line to get a lottery pick. Plenty of 4th and 5th year seniors are making NBA rosters and they're doing it because they improved enough at the college level.

Walter Clayton is a prime example. If he went to the draft in '24, he doesn't get drafted, but now, he's a first round pick.

Facts are facts, Oweh isn't even going to get a 2 way deal, at best, he is the last pick of the 2nd round. He will be making less than $100k a year in the GL. That same deal will easily be available next year, AFTER he makes a big bag of money at UK. Heck, if he improves enough, which he would need to do, he would get a much better deal in '26.

Unless something strange happens, there is no deal on the table for OO right now, so my point stands, he can get the same thing next year that he's getting this year. In reality, he can only go up from here.
That’s what I think too. He is what he is.

He will have the same options next year as now.

So make the most money now.
 

Digger-Cat

All-Conference
Oct 31, 2024
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Think he’ll probably come back but I wouldn’t be shocked if he left. He clearly wants to go and if we are being honest he’s never getting a first round guarantee whether he comes back or not.
Right, so go back to UK, make a big bag, then give the NBA another shot.
Jump to the NBA now and he will be a G League lifer and completely miss out on 1 year of big dollars at UK. To me, that's a bad move.
 
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Digger-Cat

All-Conference
Oct 31, 2024
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He’s coming back. No inside sources, UK players have a history of dragging this out to the final minute. Common sense will prevail again.
OO should drag it out though. He’s not trolling anyone, he's just trying to do everything he can to show the NBA what he can do and only a fraction of the worlds population gets to even stand on an NBA court to try out to play at that level.
Every single one of us in here would take every single opportunity to make an NBA roster and that's all he's doing.
 
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Eccain01

All-Conference
Dec 20, 2020
1,511
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Right, so go back to UK, make a big bag, then give the NBA another shot.
Jump to the NBA now and he will be a G League lifer and completely miss out on 1 year of big dollars at UK. To me, that's a bad move.
I don’t disagree but if he gets a than that will take him in the 2nd and will give him decent guarantees that may be enough for him
 

Nicholascat

Junior
May 10, 2019
322
267
0
Clayton very likely would have been drafted last year. He had legit 1st rd potential. Oweh doesn't. Being a year older will only hurt Oweh, it won't help.

That's not a fact, that's simply your belief. Many 2nd rd picks have been getting guaranteed deals the last few years. Livingston was the last pick 2 years ago and got a 7 million dollar deal. And no, that deal isn't easily there next year. He could regress, get hurt, other guys could simply outperform him and move up over him on the boards.

How do you know there is no deal for him? How do you know he can get the same thing next year? How do you know he can only go up? Jaxson Robinson sure didn't go up!
Nique Clifford sure did.
 

Digger-Cat

All-Conference
Oct 31, 2024
2,317
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Clayton very likely would have been drafted last year. He had legit 1st rd potential. Oweh doesn't. Being a year older will only hurt Oweh, it won't help.

That's not a fact, that's simply your belief. Many 2nd rd picks have been getting guaranteed deals the last few years. Livingston was the last pick 2 years ago and got a 7 million dollar deal. And no, that deal isn't easily there next year. He could regress, get hurt, other guys could simply outperform him and move up over him on the boards.

How do you know there is no deal for him? How do you know he can get the same thing next year? How do you know he can only go up? Jaxson Robinson sure didn't go up!
You're just making **** up now.

Livingston was 19 years old, Oweh is already in his grey beard years when it comes to the draft. A year older doesn't mean squat when it comes to 2nd round deals.

Also, you're using an outlier to debate this, how may guys got as lucky as Chris Livingston did? For every Chris Livingston, there are a million guys that took the plunge, missed and have been swimming in the GL for their entire careers and back then, there was no NIL, so taking the plunge was the right move. It's not the right move now.

One other thing to consider, OO doesn't have Calipari using his NBA contacts to pull strings. If you think Cal didn't help Chris, I can't help you unserstand this.

How do I know what deals OO has, or doesn't have? I don't, I'm using common sense. If he had a deal, he wouldn't be doing another workout today. If he had a deal, SOMEONE would be showing him as a draft projection.
 

katwest

Heisman
Feb 16, 2003
39,484
13,157
113
There have been at least 3 or 4 players that would have been taken before Oweh coming back, at Kentucky it must not be as much fun as they say it is, and they say it's so great and then they leave at the drop of a hat, whether they are good enough to go or not. Then you see other players that are better pro prospects at other schools staying in school. I think that with all the publicity and adoration at Kentucky some players may think they are better than they are and leave only to be out of the league or overseas after a couple of years. I guess we are going to find out soon.
 

9N9

Senior
Feb 23, 2025
200
552
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I don’t know, but the point being no one knows what his family is telling him, unless you have a direct relationship with them.
Hence, his brother is “likely advising” him to return. No one is saying they “know” what his family is telling him what to do.