Otega Oweh withdraws from NBA Draft, will return to Kentucky for 2025-26 season

Kentucky guard Otega Oweh will return to the school for the 2025-26 season, per On3’s Joe Tipton. Oweh’s future with the program was unclear while he felt out interest from NBA teams. Now, Oweh will return for one more season in Lexington.

Oweh transferred to Kentucky last offseason after spending his first two collegiate seasons at Oklahoma. In his debut campaign with the Wildcats, Oweh started in all 36 of Kentucky’s games.

The 6-foot-4 junior averaged a team-high 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He shot 49.2% from the field and 35.5% from beyond the arc. For his efforts, Oweh was named an All-SEC Second-Team selection.

Oweh had several standout performances for the ‘Cats, but he never played better than when he was matched up against his former team. In Kentucky’s 83-82 win over Oklahoma on Feb. 26, Oweh erupted for a season-high 28 points on 12-21 shooting.

Oweh’s standout performance crescendoed in a game-winning shot with six seconds left in the game. Just over two weeks later, the Wildcats and Sooners met again but this time, in the second round of the SEC Tournament.

Oweh was phenomenal again, tallying 27 points, four rebounds and five assists. After boasting a comfortable lead late in the game, Kentucky collapsed under Oklahoma’s full-court press and allowed the Sooners to take a 1-point lead with six seconds left.

In déjà vu fashion, Oweh came up clutch again, this time converting a buzzer beater in traffic to push Kentucky into the conference tournament quarterfinals. With Oweh officially returning next season, the New Jersey native will have plenty of more opportunities to create unforgettable moments for Big Blue Nation.

Oweh made 60 appearances and 37 starts in his two years at Oklahoma. He was ranked the No. 38 overall player in the country last season in On3’s College Player Rankings. Oweh will likely receive an uptick in his NIL pay this season to remain at Kentucky.

Money aside, it’s safe to assume Oweh is excited for one more year at Kentucky. After Kentucky’s season-ending loss to Tennessee in the Sweet Sixteen, Otega Oweh raved about his experience as a Wildcat to UK Sports Network’s Jack Givens.

“It was awesome. This is the most fun I’ve had playing basketball ever,” Oweh said. “That just goes to Coach Pope and the way he took this group under his wing and coached everybody. He’s a different kind of coach. He’s more like a teacher. He just pumps unlimited confidence into his guys and that’s huge when you’re a basketball player. I’m just thankful.”