Oscar Tshiebwe Named Wooden All-American; Not Among Five Finalists for Award

Oscar Tshiebwe won't become the second-ever two-time winner of the John R. Wooden Award, but he is now a two-time Wooden Award All-American.

The Kentucky forward was one of ten players tabbed to the team, the award announced on Thursday. He's joined by:

Zach Edey (Purdue)
Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana)
Jaime Jaquez Jr. (UCLA)
Brandon Miller (Alabama)
Jalen Pickett (Penn State)
Marcus Sasser (Houston)
Drew Timme (Gonzaga)
Azuolas Tubelis (Arizona)
Jalen Wilson (Kansas)

Edey, Jackson-Davis, Sasser, Timme and Wilson are the five finalists for the Wooden Player of the Year.

Tshiebwe became the ninth consensus two-time All-American in program history with his inclusion on the second team of the All-America squad as selected by the United States Basketball Writer’s Association on March 15.

He joins Forest Sale (1932, 33), Ralph Beard (1947, 48, 49), Alex Groza (1947, 48, 49), Cliff Hagan (1952, 54), Cotton Nash (1962, 63, 64), Louie Dampier (1966, 67), Dani Issel (1969, 70) and Walker (1985, 86) as the only Wildcats to earn the distinguished honor in at least two seasons.

The 6-foot-9 senior of out Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo followed up his unanimous National Player of the Year campaign with a season that saw him average 16.5 points and 13.7 rebounds. He had 11 games with 20 or more points and 20 double-doubles. He is the only player in the country averaging at least 15.0 points, 10.0 rebound, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.

In 2022 he became one of just three players to amass at least 500 rebounds in a season. As a senior, his 437 rebounds are the most of any fourth-year player in school history bettering Issel’s mark of 369. He is third all-time with 48 double-doubles. Only Issel (64) and Nash (48) have more.

Tshiebwe is one of the many Kentucky players yet to announce a decision on his future. He has the option of returning to Lexington for a third season as a Wildcat, but can also turn pro — the likelier outcome of the two.

Pros and Cons of Tshiebwe Returning for a Third Season at Kentucky

More on the soon-to-be Wildcats HERE.

Inside Kentucky basketball's somber locker room after NCAA Tourney defeat HERE.

More on the potential roster overhaul in Lexington HERE.

More on the loss to Kansas State HERE.

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