John Calipari put the full-court press on Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson. The star big man, however, decided to transfer to Kansas. Reporting around Dickinson’s decision suggested other programs were willing to offer Dickinson certain NIL guarantees and that Kentucky wasn’t willing to engage in that game.

Throughout the process, it was also revealed that Dickinson’s interest in Kentucky was contingent on the status of Kentucky’s own star big man, Oscar Tshiebwe, who currently has his name entered into the NBA Draft but could still return to Lexington for another year.

With Dickinson’s decision to go elsewhere, Calipari’s full attention should turn back to Tshiebwe.

The Wildcat head coach commented on that Thursday during a round of media interviews.

On the Dan Patrick Show, Calipari said he met with Tshiebwe on Wednesday to discuss his future, and said he’s spoken to several NBA teams to gauge the big man’s draft status. If he’s to be drafted, most think it’ll be late in the second round. Tshiebwe will have a chance to change that, though, through private workouts.

He could also be extended an invitation to either the G League Elite Camp (May 13-14) or the Combine (May 15-21) in Chicago this month.

“He was in my office yesterday. I’m talking to NBA teams. I talked to one owner about Oscar because he is going to do some more workouts. My thing, right now, is to do everything I can to help Oscar get in that league because I believe he’ll stay,” Calipari told Patrick. “Do I want to coach Oscar another year? Yes! What am I, stupid? Stupid?! Yes, I want to coach him another year. But, if I’m doing right by him, I’ve gotta give him every opportunity to run this out and see exactly where he is.”

The former national Player of the Year center has until May 31 to decide whether he wants to stay in the draft or return to school. Last season, Tshiebwe averaged 16.5 points, 13.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1 block. He led the country in rebounding for the second straight year and earned a second consensus All-American selection.

Calipari also told FOX Sports’ John Fanta that his message to Tshiebwe was to simply not shortchange himself.

“He’s been great and we’ve been great,” Calipari said. “I told him to go for it. If you want to come back, you can come back, but you’ve gotta go for it. Don’t shortchange yourself. We have stayed in touch. We haven’t done much in the portal. We’ve recruited one kid (Dickinson). Most of that recruiting effort has been my staff. We’ve got a good group.”

Will it include Tshiebwe?