(Photo by Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
(Photo by Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
Kentucky has landed the best basketball transfer project on the market in the 2021-22 season.
Central West Virginia and former five-star attorney Oscar Tshiebwe has made a commitment to Kentucky, choosing the Wildcats over offers and interest from Illinois, Miami (FL) and the state of North Carolina, among others.
After serving for the remainder of the 2020-2021 season, the newest Wildcat will be eligible for three years from 2021-22.
Tshiebwe, a 6-foot-9,260-pound center originally from Congo, averaged 8.5 points and 7.8 rebounds in ten games as a sophomore before entering the transfer portal last week. The former five-star prospectus, which has an impressive 7-foot-5 wingspan, led West Virginia in scoring and rebounding with 11.2 points and 9.3 boards per game, respectively, as a freshman. It was a freshman campaign in which he earned All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Freshman Team honors, along with Preseason All-Big 12 Team honors going into the current season. CBS Sports listed the former WVU center as the No. 15 player in college basketball ahead of the 2020-21 season.
Prior to his time in Morgantown, Tshiebwe was ranked by 247Sports and Rivals.com as a five-star prospectus, listing the standout center as No. 23 and No. 26 in the overall recruit in the 2019 class respectively. ESPN had him listed as a four-star prospectus and the No. 48 overall recruit in its class.
He was also named McDonald’s All-American in 2019, a game in which he finished with a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in 18 minutes.
At the legendary All-American Game, Tshiebwe told KSR that he loved British head coach John Calipari and what the Kentucky basketball program had to offer.
“It was a tough decision because I love Kentucky and I love Coach Calipari,” said Tshiebwe. “But I ended up in West Virginia because it’s a school I was thinking about (growing up). I like the way they play, I like the coach, I like the program. That’s why I went there. “
And if he hadn’t signed with the Mountaineers, he’d be headed to Lexington.
“Coach Calipari said to me,“ I want to coach you! Come play for me! I’m going to coach you and help you become a great player. I will help you achieve your dreams. … Kentucky was second. “
It may not have been right away, but Tshiebwe eventually made his way to Lexington as a transfer two short years later.
Check out Wildcat’s latest highlights:
Welcome home, Mr. Tshiebwe.