Oscar Tshiebwe shares optimism about NBA Draft prospects as he excels at Combine

Oscar Tshiebwe continues to remain optimistic about his prospects in the NBA Draft as the Kentucky star has worked out for the Celtics, Bucks, Rockets and Kings.

While there’s no specific timeline for his final decision, the deadline to stay in the draft or return to college is May 31.

“I believe there will be a team in the NBA that will love what I do,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

Tshiebwe turned some heads during the NBA Draft Combine scrimmages, and finished with a double-double, including 10 points and 16 rebounds. Those 16 rebounds are the most of any player in the last 5 Draft Combine scrimmages.

Tshiebwe, a 6-foot-9 center from Congo, was the consensus National Player of the Year in 2022 after he averaged 17.4 points and 15.1 rebounds as that rebound production led the country. Last season he led the nation in rebounding at 13.7 per game, and also averaged 16.5 points and shot 56% from the field.

Tshiebwe was just the ninth player in UK history to earn unanimous All-America accolades in 2 seasons and the first since Kenny Walker in 1985-86.

Oscar Tshiebwe of ⁦@KentuckyMBB⁩ has worked out for the Celtics, Bucks, Rockets and Kings

‘I believe there will be a team in the NBA that will love what I do’ pic.twitter.com/3NiY9Lt162

— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) May 17, 2023

Nice two-way sequence by Oscar Tshiebwe. Gets the block on one end and then the offensive rebound and putback. pic.twitter.com/jj9VvUcjCX

— Global Scouting (@GlobalScouting_) May 17, 2023

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.