It is always a pleasant moment to see a young, bright, and promising basketball star break into the NBA or the college basketball circuit and show the world what he’s made of. The latest rising star in the glittering sky of College basketball is Oscar Tshiebwe. The 23-year-old power forward has been raising eyebrows with his valuable contributions and remarkable performances for the Kentucky Wildcats. Let us take a closer look at the promising rise and bright prospects of Oscar Tshiebwe.
From the Humble Beginnings in Congo to the star-studded life in the US
Oscar was born to a humble family background in the Congo in 1999. He was raised in the Lubumbashi region of Congo, where he loved playing soccer as a child, with basketball being an infrequent appearance on his list of hobbies. However, the basketball camp by NBA star Bismack Biyombo turned the tide for Oscar. Based on his impressive talent and swift movements on the court, Oscar was selected for the basketball camp that paved his way to the American basketball arenas. In 2015, Oscar Tshiebwe finally made his way to the United States as he started high school at Kennedy Catholic. Standing at 6ft 8 inches, Tshiebwe’s impressive talent and performances at the local levels earned him a promotion to West Virginia Mountaineer’s Men’s basketball team. And that’s how the professional journey finally started for the boy from Congo.
College Career
The Congolese sensation burst onto the college basketball scene with a double-double performance in his second game for West Virginia, dominating the Panthers of Pittsburgh with 20 points and a whopping 17 rebounds! Tshiebwe led his team to victory in the Cancun Challenge championship game, pouring in 19 points and grabbing 18 rebounds, earning the tournament’s MVP honors. He continued to dominate throughout his freshman campaign, averaging 11.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game while shooting a blistering 55% from the field.
As a sophomore, he may have only played ten games for West Virginia before leaving for personal reasons. However, he still averaged 8.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, proving his talent was undeniable. And then, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Tshiebwe moved places to Kentucky and took the college basketball world by storm again! In his debut game for the Wildcats, he dominated the court, tallying 17 points and 20 rebounds, despite losing to the Duke. But, the fire within him burnt deep. Tshiebwe continued his dominant performances throughout the season, accumulating a historic performance against Western Kentucky, where he scored 14 points and grabbed a Rupp Arena-record 28 rebounds! His remarkable performances earned him the Sporting News National Player of the Year and the unanimous Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, making him stand out as one of the most promising college basketball players.
Statistical Data
Oscar scored 1550 points at the College basketball level with 1317 rebounds, 104 assists, 139 steals, and 196 turnovers. In the last two seasons, he has contributed 527 and 590 points, respectively, which suggests that the overall trajectory is positive and a bright future awaits the young basketball sensation.
Future Prospects
After an impressive and successful stint at the college level, Oscar Tshiebwe is anticipated and expected to be a second-round pick in the upcoming 2023 NBA draft. Let’s hope the young prodigy will make the most of his talents and become the next big thing in the NBA!
