Despite reportedly getting positive feedback from NBA scouts and front offices during the NBA Draft process, Otega Oweh is headed back to Kentucky for his senior season.
Oweh was a massive part of Kentucky's succesful first season under Mark Pope, averaging 16.2 points per game after heading to Lexington after two years with Oklahoma.
A starter in all 36 games last season, Oweh was a paragon of consistency in Pope's starting five, and even with an influx of guard talent to UK this offseason — namely Pitt transfer Jaland Lowe and recruit Jasper Johnson — Oweh returns to
Projected Kentucky starting lineup after Otega Oweh announces return
Player | Position |
|---|---|
Jaland Lowe | Point guard |
Oteha Oweh | Shooting guard |
Kam Williams | Small forward |
Jayden Quaintance | Power forward |
Brandon Garrison | Center |
Mark Pope has another brand new roster to work with
We know Pope is capable of working with what he has — last year, he had a team literally full of transfers. Next year, Pope has plenty more transfers, along with some returners and a few top recruits.
I'm not supremely confident this is how the lineup shakes out; at first, I had Denzel Aberdeen as the starting small forward, but I think Kam Williams ( transfer from Tulane) beats out Aberdeen for the starting small forward spot.
Either one could realistically man that position. Aberdeen — a national champion this year with Florida — is a capable shooter, but Williams is an elite gunner, and with Quaintance and Garrison being essential non-factors from deep, the extra spacing that Williams provides would be welcome for a team that was nearly elite from deep last year.
Alabama transfer Mouhamed Dioubate could get the call at either of the frontcourt spots. Plus, incoming 4-star recruit Jasper Johnson could come on strong and try to squeeze in for either Lowe or Oweh, and change one of those two to a super sixth man.
"Too much talent" isn't the worst problem for Mark Pope to have.