Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe adds Wooden Award to stockpile of Player of the Year awards

The consensus is in. Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe is the National Player of the Year in men's college basketball.

The junior forward was named the Wooden Award winner on Tuesday, giving him a clean sweep of the widely recognized National Player of the Year honors. Tshiebwe was previously recognized by Sporting News, The Associated Press, the National Association of Basketball Coaches, the Naismith Award and the Oscar Robertson Trophy as National Player of the Year.

Will Tshiebwe return to Lexington next season?

The good news for Kentucky fans? He may return next season to run it back.

Tshiebwe addressed his status when asked by CBS Sports Network during the Final Four on Sunday. He was wearing a bright Kentucky blue suit and matching tie while in the middle of college basketball's biggest showcase when he answered here. So take his response here with a grain of salt:

"I've been praying about it," he said when asked what he'll do next season. "And I know I have a big decision to make. ... It would be great to be in blue again. Because I love the place, I love the fans, I love everything about Kentucky. But whatever decision God has told me to do, that's what I'm gonna do."

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 03: Oscar Tshiebwe of the Kentucky Wildcats poses with the 2022 Jersey Mike's Naismith Men's College Player of the Year trophy during the 2022 Naismith Awards Brunch at the  National World War II Museum on April 03, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Oscar Tshiebwe poses with his Naismith Award on Sunday. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) (Jonathan Bachman via Getty Images)

Tshiebwe's draft projections

By most accounts, Tshiebwe isn't considered a first-round prospect in the upcoming NBA draft. Yahoo Sports' Krysten Peek didn't list Tshiebwe in her post-NCAA tournament mock of the first round. If his stock rises between now and draft day to where he's a likely first-rounder, the guaranteed money of a first-round contract will be tough to pass up compared to the risks of returning to college basketball. If not? Another chance to dominate college basketball at Kentucky is a decent backup plan.

Tshiebwe earned his honors after averaging 17.4 points, 15.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per game per game for a Kentucky team that finished 26-8 and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. His rebound rate was the best in college basketball this season. The Wildcats failed to live up to their seeding, falling in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Saint Peter's.

Boston dominated NPOY honors in women's game

Tshiebwe joins South Carolina's Aliyah Boston in stockpiling National Player of the Year honors. The South Carolina center was named the Wooden Award winner for women's college basketball on Monday. She was previously named National Player of the Year by the Naismith Award, the Associated Press and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. She also added a Final Four Most Outstanding Player trophy to her case after South Carolina beat UConn in Sunday's national championship.

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