Drafted 41st by the Miami Heat but traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he will join two of his former Kentucky teammates, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cason Wallace, Otega Oweh comes from a Nigerian sports family, as his brother Odafe Oweh is a first-round pick of the Washington Commanders in this year’s NFL draft.
Oweh, who totaled 1,255 points in two seasons for the Wildcats, becomes the second player in school history to score more than 1,000 points in his first two seasons, and was named to the All-SEC Second Team in each of his two seasons.
He led Kentucky to a 2025 NCAA Tournament run, highlighted by his 35-point performance against Santa Clara, in which he hit the game-winning buzzer-beater to force overtime.
Oweh was a consensus first-team All-American, and in his senior season, averaged 18.6 points and 1.8 steals per game.
He spoke highly of the Thunder before the draft, stating he felt his game would benefit from the patience he displayed throughout his college career, noting, “I feel like I’m going to have a real successful NBA career…my biggest thing is making an impact on whatever team I’m on.”
As expected, Kentucky fans went wild on social media when Oweh’s name was announced, reflecting the deep connection of the school to its players, particularly those who thrive on the hardwood.
