Kentucky guard Otega Oweh is entering the NBA Draft — but he’s leaving the door open to return to Lexington.
Oweh officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility, giving himself the flexibility to go pro or return to college based on feedback from NBA scouts.
The process allows Oweh to work out for teams, participate in the NBA Draft Combine, and collect evaluations before making a final decision.
📅 Important dates to watch
NBA Early Entry Deadline: April 26, 2025
NBA Draft Combine: May 11–18, 2025
Withdrawal Deadline (to return to school): May 28, 2025
This gives Oweh more than a month to navigate the pre-draft process. If he hears what he wants to hear from front offices, he’ll stay in. If not, he can return to a high-profile role under Mark Pope at Kentucky.
🔍 Oweh’s draft stock: Second round for now
Current projections have Oweh as a second-round pick, but that could shift based on how he performs in workouts and interviews.
Oweh turned in a strong season for the Wildcats, averaging 16.2 points per game while shooting 49.2% from the field and 35.5% from three. His blend of slashing ability, defense, and improving shot-making makes him an intriguing two-way guard prospect.
But second-round picks don’t come with guaranteed contracts — so the next few weeks will be all about risk assessment.
🔵 What It means for Kentucky
For Mark Pope, it’s a waiting game. If Oweh returns, the Wildcats retain a proven scorer and physical perimeter defender. If he stays in the draft, Pope will need to reload — again — from the transfer portal or incoming freshmen Jasper Johnson steps into a larger role.
Kentucky’s offense took a huge leap this past season by emphasizing pace and spacing. Oweh was a key piece in that success. Replacing his production would be no easy task.
🧠 Final thought: A smart move
This is exactly how the system should work. Oweh gets to explore his professional future while keeping the option to return to one of the biggest brands in college basketball.
He has until May 28 to make his final decision, but for now, he’s in the draft pool — and Kentucky fans will be watching closely.
Stay with WBN for all the updates as Oweh works his way through the NBA evaluation process.