Otega Oweh explains hairstyle in NBA Draft withdrawal video, timing of decision

All-SEC guard Otega Oweh announced that he would be withdrawing from the 2025 NBA Draft and returning to Kentucky just hours before the deadline on May 28. Oweh, who is one of the lone returning players in the conference to be named All-SEC last season, averaged 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 2024.

He released a video on his X account to mark his return to Lexington, but keen viewers could tell that this video had not been shot recently.

🏡 💙 pic.twitter.com/0wNAeq43gG

— Otega Oweh (@OtegaOweh) May 28, 2025

In the announcement video, Oweh still had his longer hair. However, it was revealed a few weeks earlier that the Blairstown, NJ native had cut his hair prior to participating in the NBA Draft Combine. He set the record straight on Tuesday.

“I wanna say I came back from vacation and then like two days after (I was doing my pre-draft training) the video guy wanted to do one last little piece,” Oweh said. “Just in case I needed that video really, so it was good for him that he said we should just shoot one just in case you do decide to come back and if you don’t, hey it’s okay. It was a ‘just in case type of thing.’

When asked if he filmed a goodbye video, Oweh shut down weeks of speculation.

“I didn’t, I didn’t film a goodbye video,” Oweh said with a chuckle.

Oweh will be in mix for SEC Preseason Player of Year honors

The Oklahoma transfer blossomed into one of the highest producing players in the SEC last season, as he scored 10-plus points in 33 of his 36 games played. Speaking of Oklahoma, Big Blue Nation will never forget the clutch shots he hit against his former team last season.

Oweh hit a running bank shot with six seconds remaining to stun the Sooners in Norman on February 26, then knocked them out of the SEC Tournament with a floater from the left side of the basket with two seconds remaining. These were just two plays that won the guard over with Kentucky fans, making them extremely excited for his return.

He anchors a returning core of sophomore guard Collin Chandler, junior forward Brandon Garrison and sophomore forward Trent Noah. Although all four of his fellow starters from the 2024-25 season have departed, head coach Mark Pope reloaded in the Transfer Portal and brought in some heavy hitters in Pittsburgh guard Jaland Lowe, Alabama forward Mo Dioubate, Arizona State forward Jayden Quaintance and National Champion winning Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen.