Otega Oweh: What to Expect from the Oklahoma Transfer
Oweh emerged as one of the most improved players in the Big 12 last season.
Tristan Pharis, a Sea of Blue Editor and credentialed Kentucky beat writer, provides insight.
Mark Pope’s recruiting efforts brought in 13 new players, yet only five of them have Power 5 experience. Among them is junior transfer Otega Oweh from the Oklahoma Sooners.
Curious about what to expect from this third-year standout at Kentucky? Here’s what you need to know.
Otega Oweh
Position: Guard
Height: 6-4
Weight: 215 lbs.
Class: Junior
Hometown: Newark, NJ
High School: Blair Academy
Previous School: Oklahoma
Recruiting Ranking: 4-star recruit, ranked No. 70 overall, No. 5 shooting guard (Class of 2022, per 247 Sports Composite). 4-star transfer, ranked No. 31 overall.
Background Oweh’s parents, who emigrated from Nigeria, instilled a strong work ethic in him and his three siblings.
You come here, you work hard, and you make it,” his mother Tania told ESPN in 2021, describing their family philosophy.
Athletic success runs in the family. His eldest brother, Odafe, was a star linebacker at Penn State and now plays for the Baltimore Ravens. His other brother, Kaylen, was a walk-on basketball player at Penn State.
Otega initially followed his brother by playing football but switched to basketball in high school. “I played football until middle school, and then I switched to basketball,” he said. “I loved it more.”
Despite choosing basketball, he remained inspired by his brother, Odafe, who motivated him to work hard.
Oweh’s efforts in high school earned him a 4-star ranking, a Peach Jam Championship with Team Final, and the Break Out Player of the Tournament title. He committed to Oklahoma as their top recruit for the 2022 class.
He didn’t start his first 19 college games, averaging just nine minutes and over three points. However, he became a starter later in the season, boosting his average to nearly nine points per game.
As a sophomore, Oweh’s improvements were clear, especially in his outside shooting, increasing his 3-point percentage from 25% to 37.7%. He also averaged 11.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.5 steals.
Recognizing his talent and potential, Mark Pope recruited Oweh to Kentucky. Oweh was drawn to Kentucky’s legacy and Coach Pope’s vision, saying, “It was an easy decision… It’s Kentucky, the biggest stage in college basketball.”
With two years of eligibility, Oweh aims to make an impact with the Wildcats and help establish a new era for Kentucky basketball.
Projected Role Oweh’s preseason has shown his potential as a versatile two-way player. Against Minnesota State, he scored 15 points on 7/8 shooting, with three rebounds, three steals, and six assists in just under 20 minutes.
He scored 18 points on 7/9 shooting against Kentucky Wesleyan, with five rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Some consider him Kentucky’s best exhibition player, likely to become a starter, logging over 30 minutes and possibly finishing as the team’s second-highest scorer after Jaxson Robinson.
Oweh might test the NBA Draft waters after this season, but if he returns for 2024-25, he could shine as an All-SEC-caliber player.