John Calipari, Kentucky helping Oscar Tshiebwe make NBA decision
On one end, Oscar Tshiebwe has accomplished everything he could possibly accomplish as a college basketball player in terms of individual accolades. He’s on track to win every major National Player of the Year award — he just earned Associated Press and USBWA honors Friday — and make every First-Team All-America and All-SEC team available. Kentucky’s single-season record book has been rewritten entirely thanks to his otherworldly production.
“What he’s done hasn’t been done in 42 years,” Kentucky head coach John Calipari said Friday. “Now I want you to think about what I just said, 42 years.“
On the other, as a below-the-basket 6-foot-9 center, his draft stock isn’t substantially high. He’s emerged as a clear second-round pick thanks to his niche as a relentless rebounder and workhorse in the paint, but it’s unlikely he jumps into the first round. Assuming Tshiebwe can get his NIL situation resolved — a significant ask, mind you — he’d undoubtedly make more money next season at Kentucky than he would as a pro.
There’s also a Peacock-sized hole in his heart regarding postseason success. One of the most dominant individual seasons in Kentucky basketball history with zero NCAA Tournament wins to show for it. That clearly stands for something.
Tshiebwe’s got a difficult decision to make regarding his basketball future. Luckily for the superstar center, he’s got a Hall of Fame coach who has helped countless high-profile student-athletes through the draft process. This time will be no different.
“I trust Coach (Calipari), he has done it better than everybody I know,” Tshiebwe said Friday.
Where do things stand on a decision? The junior center is still considering his options, with the weight of the opening-round loss to Saint Peter’s still on his shoulders.
“At this moment, we just finished the season and we’re going through a lot,” Tshiebwe said. “I’m just taking my time, praising God, talking to Coach. God is going to come out with a decision and Coach is going to help me the best he can. I have not made a decision yet.”
Calipari understands both sides of it. Tshiebwe made history in his first year at Kentucky and the appeal of moving forward as a pro is there. There’s also plenty of unfinished business left to take care of as a team. If he wants to return and make another run at the title, the UK head coach will welcome the opportunity with open arms.
“We talked. He knows I’m for him,” Calipari said. “He goes through the process and there are some things he’s looking for. If he chooses to leave, I’ll be sad because I’d like to coach him another year, but I’ll be happy for him. If he chooses to come back, our whole thing will be, ‘Let’s win a national title, let’s go. Let’s do what we did, be the fifth-rated team, but let’s not get knocked out. Let’s move.'”
Part of that is helping Tshiebwe through the NIL process and ensuring he’s in a safe and comfortable position on that front. It’s also on Calipari to build a roster around the star big man capable of winning a title.
“He’s got to do what’s right for him,” the Kentucky head coach said. “We’ve got to have everything in place so he can make the kind of decision that is the best thing for him.”
Tshiebwe finished the year averaging a double-double, putting up a team-best 17.4 points and a nation-leading 15.1 rebounds per game. He is the first Division I player who averaged at least 15.0 points and at least 15.0 rebounds per game since Drake’s Lewis Lloyd and Alcorn State’s Larry Smith each did during the 1979-80 season. He’s also the first major-conference player who averaged at least 16.0 points and at least 15.0 rebounds for a season since Bill Walton at UCLA in 1972-73. He became the first Wildcat to do it since Bob Burrow tallied 19.1 points and 17.7 rebounds per game in 1954-55.
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