What does Oscar Tshiebwe’s commitment to Kentucky mean?

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(Photo by Justin K. Aller / Getty Images)

Kentucky has secured the commitment of the maximum possible transfer available in the nation, as West Virginia center-back Oscar Tshiebwe has announced he will play John Calipari at Lexington for the 2021-22 season.

Tshiebwe, a 6-foot-9, 260-pound center native to the Congo, chose the Wildcats above the offers and interests of Illinois, the state of North Carolina, Miami (FL) and Tennessee, among others.

“I am grateful for the time I spent in West Virginia and the lessons I learned,” Tshiebwe wrote on his social media pages. “I have spent a lot of time praying to God to help me make the best decision for my future. I am excited about this new chapter in my life. I will continue my career at the University of Kentucky. “

But what does the new addition of Wildcat mean for the program?

Immediate training player

Before we worry about Tshiebwe we can do it for the team Next year, it is important to note that the talented transfer is scheduled to enroll in the second semester and will be directed to Lexington immediately. While he will not be eligible to play the rest of the 2020-21 season, however, he will be allowed to practice with the team and work immediately with the team’s strength and conditioning program.

This means that Olivier Sarr, Keion Brooks Jr., Isaiah Jackson, Lance Ware and Jacob Toppin will be able to face Tshiebwe, an absolute man tank, every day in practice, helping the current group prepare for The physical players from the front court that the team will continue to see throughout the conference.

Kentucky already has a lot of fellow players in mind (11 now with Brooks back in the rotation), but Tshiebwe’s addition will ensure that Calipari will no longer have to worry about having enough bodies to fight in practice. Now, it has extras.

Scrap dog in paint

As for the presence on the Tshiebwe track once he declares himself eligible in 2021-22, it’s pretty clear what Kentucky is getting: a strong, physical workhorse with an endless engine.

Tshiebwe, 6 feet 9, 260 pounds with a wingspan of 7 feet and 5, already has a body ready for the NBA. It’s an anchor on the front track, both literally and figuratively. But the reason there was so much excitement for the five-star ex-candidate out of high school was that he was simply working on everyone who was on the ground, and that has been his staple in his time. and West Virginia. Whether it’s diving for loose balls, fighting hard rebounds, or advancing to competition in fast breaks, Tshiebwe is not outdone by anyone.

This quote from the old Mountaineer Center says it all:

“I’m a machine,” Tshiebwe said From West Virginia Life as a mountaineer video series. “My way of playing, most of the people we play against, ask me the same question during the games. “Bro, how come you don’t get tired?” I say, “I’m tired, but I don’t stop when I’m tired. I stop when I’m done. “

Tshiebwe stays a little dirty on the offensive end (he’s relatively new to the sport), but makes up for it by doing the dirty work at both ends of the ground. There’s a reason he almost averaged a double-double (11.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game) as a freshman, after all.

Next year’s front track may be complete

So the Kentucky front track for next season looks pretty loaded.

We’re not sure what will happen to Keion Brooks Jr. as for their decision on the NBA draft, and Olivier Sarr (graduation) and Isaiah Jackson (NBA draft) could leave the show, but the hope is that Jacob Toppin and Lance Ware will both they return next season and Kentucky has already signed five-star center Daimion Collins and four-star striker Bryce Hopkins in the 2021 class.

With Tshiebwe officially added to the image, space is already limited to the UK track, and that’s good. There is no clear hole to be shown with the five likely pieces of Tshiebwe, Toppin, Ware, Collins and Hopkins, and if Brooks or Jackson return, the sky is the lower limit.

It’s not uncommon for a top-tier front track to be able to consolidate a whole year in advance, but Calipari has done so by adding Tshiebwe to the mix.

Someone who wants to be in Kentucky

Beyond what he brings to the table as a player, Tshiebwe is someone who has loved Kentucky’s basketball program since he was in high school. As a recruit, Tshiebwe had deep ties to the West Virginia program that made it almost certain he would end up in Morgantown, no matter who came to call.

But make no mistake, Tshiebwe liked what Calipari and the British show had to offer for the first time.

“It was a tough decision because I like Kentucky and I love coach Calipari,” Tshiebwe told KSR at the McDonald’s All-American Game in 2019. “But I ended up in West Virginia because it was a school I used to think about. “I like the way I play, I like the coach and the program. That’s why I ended up going there.”

If he had not signed with the Mountaineers, Tshiebwe told KSR he was heading to Lexington.

“Coach Calipari was telling me,‘ I want to train you! Come play for me! I will train you and help you become a great player. I will help you achieve your dreams. … Kentucky was second. ”

Two years later, Tshiebwe is finally a wild cat from Kentucky.

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