Sportswriters Thought Tshiebwe Would Be Good, But Nobody Expected Elite

By LARRY VAUGHT

Sporting News columnist Mike DeCourcy said Oscar Tshiebwe “practically glows” when you are around him.

“He is such a delightful young man,” DeCourcy said.

Sporting News was the first to name Tshiebwe national player of the year and he ended up sweeping the six major player of the year awards, including the United States Basketball Writers Award presented to him by DeCourcy during the Final Four in New Orleans.

“I got the chance to speak to him by telephone on the Monday after the regular season ended and he was just an absolute delight. So upbeat and positive,” DeCourcy said. “If it was not self-serving, Kentucky should have Oscar make a pitch for Cal (John Calipari) and then everybody (criticizing Calipari) would chill out.

“He came to Kentucky and embraced what Cal taught him. He averaged nine (points) and nine (rebounds) at West Virginia and the next thing you know he is national player of the year. Do you think he did that without coaching? That’s why he is there (at Kentucky) and why he might come back.

“It’s why he got great. He wasn’t a preseason All-American. He was expected to be a good big guy but not great like he turned out to be.”

DeCourcy remembers thinking if UK signed Jalen Duren it might not work the Cats last season. Instead, Duren signed with Memphis and Tshiebwe led the nation in rebounding and also led UK in scoring, steals and field goal percentage.

“I just didn’t think Oscar and Jalen would play great together. I remember thinking it would be best for Kentucky for Oscar to have his own position but I never envisioned him having the year he did,” DeCourcy said. “I was thinking 12 points, 10 rebounds, 30 minutes a game. I thought he would be a good player, but not an elite player. He carried Kentucky to a No. 2 seed (in the NCAA Tournament) and 26 wins.”

DeCourcy admits he did not realize how dynamic Tshiebwe was at West Virginia because he was “rooted” around the rim.

“I knew he could rebound his area but could not move around a lot,” DeCourcy said. “This year at both ends of the court he showed the ability to be mobile and extremely dynamic. That’s why he went from getting nine rebounds a game (at West Virginia) to more than 15. That’s why he was able to make jump shots, something you rarely even got to see him attempt at West Virginia.”

Tshiebwe will explore his NBA options but he’s not listed in the first round of mock drafts currently. DeCourcy didn’t talk to Tshiebwe about his career decision but does believe he is open to returning.

“He’s had an amazing growth in terms of what he was able to become as a player this year but I don’t think he is done growing. If he stays at Kentucky another season, there’s a lot more he can add to his game,” DeCourcy said.

“If he goes professional, it might be hard to get that continued growth, especially at the offensive end. He can still work on his game but there are some things you can apply only in actual competition that might not be available to him unless he goes overseas if he goes pro.”


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