Kentucky basketball needs 3-point shooters, so could Oscar Tshiebwe do that too?

LEXINGTON — By the numbers, the projections seem laughable.

Shaedon Sharpe, who did not even play a game for Kentucky last season, is projected as a top-10 pick in the 2022 NBA draft. TyTy Washington, who struggled down the stretch after injuries, is considered a likely lottery pick.

But despite sweeping the major National Player of the Year awards, Oscar Tshiebwe was projected as only a second-round selection before he announced his return to Kentucky last week.

“When he hit me back, he said, ‘I asked God, why could I win every award and do all that I did and not be a lottery pick?’” Kentucky coach John Calipari said last week in an appearance on Sports Talk with Dan Issel and Mike Pratt. "And he said the answer I got back was because you have unfinished business.

“…It was him saying, ‘I want to come back, win a championship, and I want to come back and be a lottery pick.’ I said, all right, I like those two things. Let’s go for them.”

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Of course, the difference in the draft projections of Tshiebwe and the less proven UK freshmen centers around potential and how their skillsets fit with the NBA game.

A consensus first-team All-American, Tshiebwe broke UK’s record for double-doubles in a single season (27). He ranks third on UK’s single-season rebounds list (515). Tshiebwe led the country in rebounds per game (15.1) and offensive rebounds per game (5.26). He ranks second in defensive rebounds per game (9.88).

The 6-foot-9, 255-pound forward who played two years at West Virginia before transferring to UK also led Kentucky in scoring (17.4 points per game), blocked shots (55) and steals (60). The SEC coaches named him to the league's All-Defensive Team.

At 6-foot-9, 255 pounds, Tshiebwe is undersized to play center in the NBA though. In an NBA offense, Tshiebwe would almost certainly need to operate some on the perimeter to justify a first-round selection. He would also have to prove capable of defending quicker, more athletic players away from the basket.

The message from the NBA advisory committee after Tshiebwe submitted his name for draft feedback was clear.

“They were like, ‘Oscar, if you can expand your game from outside, can make one or two 3-pointers a game, attack the rim, make passes and get better dribbling, you will be good, in a good position next year,’” Tshiebwe said.

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Tshiebwe has already taken that advice to heart, focusing on his perimeter skills in summer pickup games.

However, testing those improvements in the regular season will be a more difficult proposition. Tshiebwe surprised with his mid-range shooting game last year, but will Calipari actually let him float to the perimeter when his offensive rebounding around the basket remains his most effective weapon?

Calipari critics are generally quick to point out the Hall of Fame coach’s reluctance to build an offense around 3-point shooting, but he has at least evolved to feature a true “stretch four” on most of his recent teams. His centers have rarely attempted many 3s though.

Karl-Anthony Towns has developed into an elite 3-point shooter in the NBA, but he was just 2 for 8 from 3-point range in his one season as a Wildcat. Anthony Davis was 3 for 20 from 3 for the 2012 national championship team.

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In four of the last six seasons, including Tshiewbe’s Player of the Year campaign, Kentucky’s starting center did not attempt a 3 all season. The exceptions in that stretch were Reid Travis (7 for 26) in 2018-19 and Olivier Sarr (12 for 27) in 2020-21.

Even as Sarr proved effective from long range, Calipari seemed reluctant to change the offense for his worst Kentucky team to allow the 7-footer to play on the perimeter more.

“Do you want him to take 10 a game?” Calipari sarcastically asked a reporter after being asked if he had considered designing more plays for Sarr 3s after he hit 3 of 5 3s in a loss to Arkansas.

Late in his historic season, Tshiebwe was asked if he could shoot 3s. Never short on confidence, Tshiebwe offered a look at why he thinks he can improve his draft stock with another year of college while also shining a light on the difficulty in projecting that role for him next season.

“I can make them 3s,” Tshiebwe said. “I told coaches I want to shoot a 3. Coaches say, ‘Oscar, we’ve got so many 3-point shooters, we don’t have so many bigs. We want you to help us down in the post.’

“…I work with coach Orlando (Antigua) on 3s every single day when we’re shooting, we’re working out. What I’m doing I think is bigger than just making 3s. Right now, I’m going to keep working on the 3s. In the game, I’m going to do what my team needs me to do so I can help this team. It’s not about me. It’s about team.”

Discussing his decision to come back to Kentucky last week, Tshiebwe said Calipari has given him the go ahead to at least try shooting 3s next season.

“Especially when coaches play like two bigs, that’s what coach wants me (to do),” he said. “Pick and pop, and try a 3-pointer. If you keep making them, keep shooting.”

It is not unheard of for a college player to significantly improve his draft stock as a senior, but NBA teams continue to focus most of their early picks on younger players. Last year, only one senior (Gonzaga’s Corey Kispert at No. 15) was picked in the first round.

Of course, no one predicted Tshiebwe would develop into the Player of the Year when he was preparing for his debut season at Kentucky last summer. Tshiebwe thinks he can surprise again with another summer to work on his offensive game.

And even if he does not drastically alter his standing in the eyes of NBA scouts, there is more work to do in Lexington.

The last unanimous National Player of the Year to return to college as Tyler Hansbrough in 2008. Hansbrough did not repeat as Player of the Year, but he did lead North Carolina to the 2009 national championship.

“I’m not coming back just to have fun,” Tshiebwe said. “I’m not coming back just to win National Player of the Year again because I’ve already got like 10 trophies. I don’t really got a place in my room to put them.

“I’m coming back with a different mindset to help the school, to help win a championship.”

Email Jon Hale at jahale@courier-journal.com; Follow him on Twitter at @JonHale_CJ.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Oscar Tshiebwe aims to shoot 3s as a Kentucky basketball senior