Oscar Tshiebwe ready to dress for ‘school of dreams’

Kentucky basketball forward Oscar Tshiebwe began his college basketball career in West Virginia. But after playing a season and a half at Morgantown, Tshiebwe decided to transfer. And when he was looking for a new destination, the 6-9, 260-pound Tshiebwe found Kentucky. It turns out that the UK has always been his first choice.

“I wanted to be unique and go straight (to the NBA) from high school,” Tshiebwe said. “I chose West Virginia over Kentucky and went to West Virginia, but Kentucky was my school, my favorite school, the school of my dreams since my freshman year in high school. to choose West Virginia but look what God has done. He sent me to the place that I always prayed to be. So, I’m so happy to be here, and I know that I wanted to be unique since my first year, but the way God does things differently than the way we do things, we just have to find his way. “

Tshiebwe has no resentment towards West Virginia. He just needed a change of scenery.

“Sometimes you pick a place and you get there and it doesn’t work,” he said. “It’s not like you don’t like people, don’t like the place. It’s just that you don’t feel like you have to continue there.”

Tshiebwe brings strong credentials to the UK program. As a freshman at WVU, he was unanimously selected for the Big 12 All-Freshman team. He was also a second-team All-Big 12 after averaging 11.2 points and 9.3 rebounds in 31 starts. In sophomore, Tshiebwe averaged 8.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game before moving to Lexington. He had 14 points and nine rebounds against the best Gonzaga.

Last season, Tshiebwe was able to train with his new Kentucky teammates, which he says will benefit him and the team in the 2021-22 season.

“It was a great experience for me. It was great,” he said. next year. So, it was great for me to see these things. So now I’m working on things to be ready for next year’s team. “

Tshiebwe is clearly a talented player, but he knows there are parts of his game that still need work.

“I have to improve on my jump shot, post moves as always,” Tshiebwe said. “I had a conversation with Coach Cal and he said, ‘Remember the things that brought you here. The things you do better, remember them. You have to keep improving yourself in the things that you can do. better and keep learning new things. ‘ This is what I am learning. I told them they could teach me basketball. It’s because I’m new to this game. I have a lot to learn. That’s why I listen to them all the time. “

Tshiebwe is finally ready to start playing for his dream school and he can’t wait to make the most of this opportunity.