Physicality is what Mark Pope thinks makes Otega Oweh an NBA caliber talent
Kentucky guard Otega Oweh (00) shoots the game-winning shot to defeat Oklahoma during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the second round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW)- Mark Pope probably wouldn’t mind having Otega Oweh back in Blue and White next season. But, if he’s not, the head Wildcat has full confidence that becoming a professional player is the right choice for the star guard.
“He has so much room to grow. I think his ceiling as a playmaker he hasn’t even begun to tap into,” said Pope with the NBA Draft just over a month away.
A Physical Force
Analyzing Oweh’s game concludes that the breakout star is a threat on both ends of the court. In all but three games, twice versus Alabama and once against Auburn, he scored in double-figures for the Wildcats.
Per game, Oweh averaged almost five rebounds and two steals. His former head coach says that his physical play is evident in more places than the box score.
“Otega’s physicality is elite on the offensive and defensive end,” said Pope. “It shows up in contact, explosiveness, his first step, and ability to guard guys off and on the ball. He grew so much last season in terms of winning the point of attack over and over again.”
From talking to Oweh, Pope says that his former player wants to get his shot off quicker as he develops in the NBA or during his final year of college.
Trust the Process
Several other former Wildcats under Pope (Amari Williams, Andrew Carr, Jaxson Robinson, Koby Brea, Lamont Butler and Ansley Almonor) are going through the draft process as well, but have no more college eligibility.
“We’re talking to all of our guys who are going through this process all of the time,” said Pope. “This is a really exciting time for our guys going through this process.”
UK’s coaches have been out to every venue where the seven prospects are training and the Wildcats will have a presence at the Draft Combine from May 11-18 in Chicago.
“These are lifelong relationships that we build,” said Pope.
Mock Drafts
After the NBA Draft lottery drawing, there are updated projections of where some of the former Cats may be picked or passed on.
Brea’s chances of being selected in the second round by either the Oklahoma City Thunder or Sacramento Kings are what Bleacher Report and Yahoo Sports are projecting. ESPN is on the same page, inking the Washington Heights, New York native to the Indiana Pacers at 54th overall.
Predictions for the others aren’t as clear and they may go undrafted. Although, five former Cats cracked ESPN’s latest top-100 draft prospects list.
- Koby Brea- 56th
- Amari Williams- 63th
- Otega Oweh- 77th
- Jaxon Robinson- 81th
- Andrew Carr- 97th
As for Oweh’s decision to either test the waters of the Draft or free agency process, he has until May 28 to withdraw his name and return to Kentucky.
