Oscar Tshiebwe announces he's returning to Kentucky Wildcats for 2022-23 men's basketball season

Kentucky forward Oscar Tshiebwe, the consensus men's basketball national player of the year, announced Wednesday he is returning to Lexington for his senior season.

Tshiebwe made his announcement on SportsCenter, saying he came to a decision last week and will look to improve his NBA draft stock next season. He becomes the first Wooden Award winner since North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough in 2008 to return to college.

While name, image and likeness legislation will play a major factor in borderline first-round prospects opting to return to school rather than entering the NBA draft, Tshiebwe's status as a foreign student had posed some issues in his ability to earn money. But the Congo-born standout is expected to be able to make NIL money moving forward.

"As a student with an F1 visa, I can't even talk about it," Tshiebwe said on SportsCenter. "It's a little bit tricky."

Tshiebwe was dominant during his first season at Kentucky, becoming the first Wildcat to win the Wooden Award since Anthony Davis in 2012. He also won Naismith Player of the Year, NABC National Player of the Year, Pete Newell Big Man of the Year, SEC Player of the Year and was a consensus first-team All-American selection.

He transferred to Kentucky midway through the 2020-21 season after a season and a half at West Virginia, but he didn't suit up until the 2021-22 campaign. He had 17 points and 20 rebounds in the season opener against Duke, setting the stage for what would be a historically productive season.

Tshiebwe had 28 double-doubles, including 16 straight to end the season, and averaged 17.4 points and 15.1 rebounds -- leading the nation in the latter category.

"The things that he's done haven't been done for 50 years," Kentucky coach John Calipari said last month. "Let me say this again, the things that he's done haven't been done for 50 years. He plays his heart out and finds ways to impact every game. I'm proud of him, and it's not only on the court. He's so thankful and faith-based and he's a joy to coach."

Kentucky went 26-8 this past season, earning a 2-seed in the NCAA tournament. But the Wildcats' campaign ended prematurely with a loss to 15-seed Saint Peter's in the first round of the tournament. Tshiebwe had 30 points and 16 rebounds against the Peacocks, but it wasn't enough.

"That's not how I wanted it to end," he said on Wednesday. "It's the best motivation."

With Tshiebwe back in the fold, along with the potential return of starters Keion Brooks Jr. and Sahvir Wheeler and the addition of five-star recruits Chris Livingston and Cason Wallace, Kentucky should open the season as a Final Four favorite.