Oscar Tshiebwe

Tshiebwe is a Congolese center who reached the NBA through a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz after one of the most decorated individual seasons in Kentucky basketball history. Named the consensus national player of the year in 2022, he has navigated the professional fringes with energy, rebounding, and interior scoring.

Born on November 27, 1999, in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tshiebwe played soccer as a child but was encouraged to start basketball because of his height. He trained by running on hills near his hometown and attended a basketball camp led by Congolese NBA player Bismack Biyombo, who helped advance his career. He did not start playing basketball until May 2014.

Tshiebwe moved to the United States in November 2015 and attended Mountain Mission School in Virginia before transferring to Kennedy Catholic High School in Pennsylvania. As a junior, he averaged 21.1 points and led his team to a PIAA Class 1A title. As a senior, he averaged 23.4 points, 18 rebounds, and five blocks, leading Kennedy Catholic to a 24-3 record and the PIAA Class 6A championship. He was named Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year and played in the McDonald's All-American Game and Nike Hoop Summit.

Tshiebwe committed to West Virginia and averaged 11.2 points and 9.3 rebounds as a freshman. He was named to the Second Team All-Big 12 and the All-Newcomer Team. After 10 games as a sophomore, he left West Virginia for personal reasons and transferred to Kentucky.

At Kentucky, Tshiebwe made an immediate impact. In his debut, he tallied 17 points and 20 rebounds against Duke. On December 22, 2021, he scored 14 points and grabbed a Rupp Arena-record 28 rebounds against Western Kentucky. At the close of the season, he was named the Sporting News National Player of the Year and the unanimous SEC Player of the Year. He declared for the 2023 NBA draft.

After going undrafted, Tshiebwe signed a two-way contract with the Indiana Pacers. He made his NBA debut in the 2023 In-Season Tournament championship game against the Los Angeles Lakers. He later signed with the Utah Jazz on a two-way contract.

Tshiebwe is an elite rebounder with physicality, interior scoring, and defensive energy. His game is built on putbacks, post moves, and offensive rebounding. He has shown flashes of mid-range shooting but remains primarily an energy big who provides hustle and interior presence. His rebounding rates are elite for his minutes.