The wait is over, and the message is clear: Otega Oweh is back.<\/p>\n
After missing significant time recovering from an injury, Kentucky\u2019s star guard returned to full practice this week, and he wasted no time reminding everyone why he was named the SEC Preseason Player of the Year.<\/p>\n
Otega Oweh is feeling “good” and “grateful”<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I\u2019m feeling good. Um no restrictions, so that\u2019s a blessing,\u201d Oweh said Tuesday. \u201cI\u2019m just grateful that it was just this type of injury and nothing more\u2026 I\u2019m in every drill, every competition rep. So I\u2019m happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
His first day back included the now-infamous steal and dunk<\/a> that Mark Pope described, a moment Oweh admitted was partly about testing his legs. \u201cYeah, a little bit,\u201d he smiled when asked if he dunked on someone.<\/a> \u201cJust had to test it to see if I still had my legs\u2026 yeah, it\u2019s still there.\u201d While he felt a little sore the next morning, the overriding feeling was joy. \u201cJust being able to, you know, bump and compete with the guys\u2026 now being a part of it, it feel good.\u201d<\/p>\n Embracing the player of the year buzz<\/p>\n Oweh also reflected on learning he was named SEC Preseason Player of the Year, an honor he found out about just moments after discussing it with UK trainer Brandon Wells. \u201cI feel like he manifested it,\u201d Oweh laughed. While excited, he emphasized the team\u2019s depth, noting Jaland Lowe\u2019s All-SEC recognition and predicting more Wildcats would earn honors by season’s end. \u201cWe really have like five, six, seven, eight guys that could really be on that team\u2026 by the end of the year, we\u2019re going to have multiple cats on one of these teams.\u201d<\/p>\n Depth and the road ahead<\/p>\n Watching from the sidelines gave Oweh a unique perspective on just how deep this Kentucky team is. \u201cI could really see it like we could go we could play 12 guys like that\u2019s I feel like that\u2019s unheard of in in college basketball,\u201d he observed.<\/p>\n He also praised the rapid development of newcomer Andrija Jelavic and expressed excitement about the eventual return of Jayden Quaintance. \u201cI see Jayden every single day\u2026 once we get him back, it\u2019s going to be very, very scary.\u201d For now, Oweh is just happy to be back competing, ready to lead a team he believes can be truly special.<\/p>\n