When the college transfer portal was installed in 2018, it opened up endless possibilities as a tool that college players can utilize to better their careers. No longer did they have to go through the outdated headaches of what it took to change schools. Now, it's a quicker process.
If you want to see how influential the transfer portal has been at the college game, look no further than the Oklahoma City Thunder . Their three-player 2026 NBA draft class all involve successful transfer stories.
Aday Mara broke out at Michigan after two so-so years at UCLA. Bennett Stirtz slowly worked his way up the ranks from D-II's Northwest Missouri State to Drake to Iowa. And then there's Otega Oweh . He went from being at Oklahoma to Kentucky.
For Oweh, he labels his decision to go to the Wildcats as a tremendous success. After he took part in OKC's 2026 NBA draft rookie introductory press conference, he explained why his two years at Kentucky catapulted achieving his NBA dreams.
"I feel like going to Kentucky, I was really betting on myself. Just doubling down," Oweh said. "I didn't want to transfer and go somewhere where a lot of guys think they can go somewhere and be a star. Shoot as many shots as I want and not worry about winning."
Oweh had a rocky start to his four-year collegiate career. His two years at Oklahoma were filled with ups and downs. After his sophomore year, he searched for a change of scenery. And no offense to the Sooners, but Kentucky is a basketball blueblood. They live and breathe college hoops there. If he wanted to maximize his odds of making the NBA, being in a traditional basketball-first school was the best environment to go to.
It didn't take long for Oweh to take advantage of his new situation. He immediately became Kentucky's top scorer. His scoring gradually increased over the years and topped at 18.6 points in his senior season. The Wildcats were a March Madness team in both years. He dropped 35 points in a Round of 64 win over Santa Clara this past March.
Even though Kentucky had two decent years during Oweh's time there — at least, for their standards — he morphed into an NBA draft prospect. Eventually, the Thunder added him with the No. 41 pick of the 2026 NBA draft. Quite the rise for someone who was an average starter at a pedestrian basketball program in Oklahoma.
"For me, I wanted to be somewhere that's a powerhouse that's known for winning at the biggest stage. Putting myself in a position to make the NBA," Oweh said. "Which I feel like is what I did. Going to Kentucky and having the two years I had set me up for this moment."
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Otega Oweh believes decision to join Kentucky helped him reach NBA
