Report: Oscar Tshiebwe Making $2.75 Million from NIL Deals

Current Kentucky big man Oscar Tshiebwe is racking in $2.75 million in name, image and likeness deals, according to Kyle Tucker of The Athletic.

Kentucky is in the Bahamas this week for a summer trip. While Tshiebwe’s teammates are having fun, the reigning National Player of the Year is racking up NIL money. Tucker reports that Tshiebwe has made $500,000 in the last week while in the Bahamas.

This is just another day in the new world of college athletics.

Tshiebwe and North Carolina’s Armando Bacot are the two biggest superstars in college basketball this upcoming season and have changed the landscape of the sport. The one-and-done era is coming to a close and now it’s time to bring in four-year players that will bring in the school money while bringing themselves money as well.

Tshiebwe was a projected second-round pick in this past summer’s NBA draft but he ultimately decided to stay at Kentucky for his senior season. Tshiebwe averaged 17.4 points, 15.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks in 34 games for the Wildcats. The former West Virginia big is making more money in college through NIL deals than if he stayed in the draft and became a second-round pick. Tshiebwe’s game dominates in college but the lack of perimeter play would hurt him in the league. So why not return to college, work on developing your game and make a bunch of money? Tshiebwe has an opportunity to leave the Wildcats next spring as one of the best big men in the program’s history.

Many college athletics fans have expressed their concern for NIL ruining the landscape of college sports. How can non-blue bloods keep up? West Virginia was ranked No. 1 in average NIL deals per player in the new Big 12. Country Roads Trust, Toothman Ford and many local businesses have played a huge role in taking care of the WVU athletes from all sports.