Men's Basketball

Exploring the the Brother Like Bond Formed Between Oscar Tshiebwe and Ugonna Onyenso

Published

2 years ago

February 13, 2023

Tristan Pharis/ KY Insider

If you arrive at a Kentucky basketball game early enough, you will catch Oscar Tshiebwe and Ugonna Onyenso battling each other one-on-one in warmups. The battles are filled with competition, but also smiles and laughter, two things that have been scarce at times this season.

Both coming from Africa, the two have created a brother-like bond, sharing many of the same experiences. At 23 years old, Tshiebwe assumed the older brother role “immediately” and has been an invaluable help to the 18-year-old Onyenso, both on and off the court.

On the court, they build up each other, specifically in practice, where they say the battles are most intense. Tshiebwe possesses the physicality that Onyenso needs to improve against, the same can be said for Oneynso possessing the length that Tshiebwe needs to improve against.

“We go at each other in practice, every time. Every time,” Onyenso tells KY Insider. “To get me ready for the next level. He helps me, I help him. It’s a 50/50 thing.” As a sign of improvement, Onyenso says he has won the last two-three battles, “surprising” Tshiebwe in the process.

Yet, off the court, is where most of the teaching and learning is happening. When asked specifically, Tshiebwe says he is teaching four specific things to his newest teammate:

Be a fighter.

Stay in the gym, always keep improving,
Treat others with respect, “treat them how you would want to be treated.”

Keep God in your life.

Using these four key principles, Tshiebwe believes he is preparing Onyenso for “his time”, saying, “I just want to get him ready for when I am not here.”

That starts with a fighting spirit. “He (Tshiebwe) is always telling me, ‘Know where you come from,’” Onyenso says. “Where we are from, being from Africa, we need to work. We should have that fighting spirit in us, we don’t quit. He always tells me, whenever things get harder, that’s when I know I am really working.”

Yet, it doesn’t stop there. Leaning into the narrative that Tshiebwe is different from the rest of the roster, Onyenso actually confirms that, but not for the reasons you may immediately think of.

“Oscar is very different,” Onyenso tells KY Insider. “For someone who is National Player of the Year, he doesn’t act like it. It’s a very good thing. He treats people the same way. He treats every with the same love and the same respect.”

This example being set for Onyenso is “big” for him as he wishes “to follow in his (Tshiebwe) footsteps.”

When asked what he wants to be remembered for most at the end of his time in Lexington, Onyenso didn’t answer with any accolades, but would rather be remembered for the person he strives to be. Without hesitation, “Not on the court, but off the court. The kind of person I am, the kind of impact I want to have on people. How I am willing to help people any way I can.”

At a time when people are talking about Tshiebwe’s ball-screen defense and not living up to his performance from last season, it is just as important to talk about his humanity. That is something that be seen in his relationship with Onyenso.

Also published on A Sea of Blue.

Related Topics:Oscar Tshiebwe Ugonna Onyenso

Men's Basketball

Kentucky Basketball’s Practice Facility Sees Major Makeover

The Joe Craft Center, after years of casual criticism from Wildcats fans, has finally been given an upgrade.

Published

6 hours ago

June 21, 2025

Lane Mills

UK Athletics

Maybe the weirdest qualm of many that plagued John Calipari’s tenure at Kentucky were the consistent complaints about the team’s practice facility, the Joe Craft Center.

From exaggerated rumors about leaks in the ceiling to general observations made about the court and facilities, fans, especially towards the end of that era, pointed to the Craft Center’s age as one of many signs of the times. Even in spite of occasional, supposed changes now and again.

In only his second year, Mark Pope has seemingly already addressed that complaint — at least to an extent.

The official Kentucky men’s basketball account recently posted a video across all social media platforms of the team during summer practice, featuring and obviously removed Craft Center court.

The court itself has been redone, in addition to the graphics and banners on the wall. Alongside the hanging threads celebrating the program’s eight national championships, a ninth one has been tacked onto the end.

It simply reads: “#9 – The Assignment.” If fans weren’t already excited enough for Coach Pope’s sophomore season, a ninth title banner being fixed in the renovation’s spotlight should send folks through the roof.

It may seem like a small thing, but given the program’s track record in the last few years, it’s the small things that feel the biggest. Mark Pope not only understands the assignment, but he’s making sure his team does, too.

Men's Basketball

Jasper Johnson Makes Final U19 USA Roster Under Coach Mark Pope

Jasper Johnson has advanced in the U19 USA camp for the second time alongside the nation’s best recruits, and under Mark Pope’s wing.

Published

1 day ago

June 20, 2025

Lane Mills

Instagram: @bruhjasperj (UK Athletics)

In a surprisingly relevant development smack dab in the middle of the offseason, Jasper Johnson has yet again advanced in the pool of players participating in the USA U19 camp.

The program, which could be a described as a sort of extension of the Team USA that just took home the gold in 2024, is comprised of some of the nation’s most anticipated talents set to take collegiate courts in the next couple of seasons.

Blue Gets In

Among them is Kentucky native and commit Johnson, and was also incoming Cat Malachi Moreno, before the latter was cut as a result of a mild injury he obtained throughout the camp’s course. Despite Moreno’s exit, his future teammate continues to impress.

Under the wing of Coach Mark Pope, who’s helmed the team in the camp up to this point, Johnson has now made the final cut after multiple roster slashes – he and only 11 other players remain in the minority that will go forward to actually compete for the team in the 2025 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup, which will take place June 28 through July 6 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The pre-competition camp serves not only as a trial of play before these athletes disperse to their own respective rosters this fall and next, but for Johnson, as a preview of what it’s like to play under Coach Pope. If his current success is any indicator, Kentucky fans may be in for something special when the pair tackle opposing teams together for the blue and white.

In similar noteworthy news, also attending the event are Taylen Kinney and Tyran Stokes, two Kentucky-born athletes with ties to Kentucky that the program is heavily recruiting. Jasper’s strong performance, combined with Coach Pope’s presence, can only help the Wildcats’ chances on that front, too.

To say the least, Mark Pope has found a way to facilitate Kentucky’s influence far beyond the boundaries of Lexington. He and Johnson, for the time being, will continue to press turn heads on the national stage, and it’s very likely that fans aren’t the only ones paying attention.

Men's Basketball

Archie Goodwin and Kahlil Whitney Set to Join La Familia This Summer

La Familia continues to add more firepower to the 2025 roster.

Published

2 days ago

June 19, 2025

Kai McClelland

James Crisp (Left), Adam Hunger (Right) | Associated Press

As the start of the 2025 TBT Tournament inches closer, La Familia has been slowly but surely adding star Wildcats to the roster.

Usually, we see announcements for new additions to the squad roll out on social media in some form, whether it be a post from La Familia’s official accounts or in form of Ansley Almonor’s announcement, which took place on BBN Tonight.

However, this time, Archie Goodwin and Kahlil “The Dragon” Whitney were added to the roster on the TBT website without any announcement, surprising Big Blue Nation as the news leaked and began to circulate.

They were removed from the website afterwards, but as of Thursday, June 19, appear on the website as listed members of the roster.

Goodwin has been an active member for years, highlighted by his semifinals appearance last year where he averaged 13.8 points per game en route.

Whitney is a name that may cause some to shed a tear, with so much potential surrounding the former five-star leading up to his debut. Ultimately, he left the program after appearing in just 18 games for Kentucky.

La Familia is competitive as all get out, shown by chippy play with guys who have nothing to lose but everything to win for the place they call home. Goodwin and Whitney, now added to that list of guys, will look to redeem themselves with one goal in mind. Win.

The official La Familia roster as of June 19:

– Willie Cauley-Stein (2012-15)

– Doron Lamb (2010-12)

– DeAndre Liggins (2008-11)

– Aaron Harrison (2013-15)

– Andrew Harrison (2013-15)

– Ansley Almonor (2024-25)

– Archie Goodwin (2012-13)

– Kahlil Whitney (2019-20)