Oscar Tshiebwe with UK campers. (Kentucky Basketball Photo)
One player who certainly does not seem to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of playing basketball for Kentucky is West Virginia transfer Oscar Tshiebwe. He’s a player who likes interacting with fans — he played Santa Claus his freshman year at West Virginia when players visited a children’s hospital — and made that clear with youngsters at the UK basketball camp Tuesday.
“You cannot deny to take a picture with fans because they’re always supporting us. We need the fans for us to do good. We need the motivation. If Rupp Arena is full, I feel we are going to do good,” Tshiebwe told media members Tuesday. “I’m in a good place now. I’m so thankful.”
Kentucky fans are thankful, too, because Tshiebwe gives the team a physical inside presence it desperately lacked last season.
“I’ll fight for a lot of rebounds because that’s what I do the best,” Tshiebwe said.
That commitment to rebounding is evident with the number he wears — No. 34. That was the same number Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon wore.
“He was the Dream,” Tshiebwe said. “He’s the best big man I ever watched. I watched him all the time, and I want to play like him. (Olajuwon) is the best big man ever. He had good moves and he was unstoppable. I watch him all the time and I want to play like him.”
