Oscar Tshiebwe – Hermitage, PA
C | 6-foot-9 | 245 lbs | No. 30 overall
You will be hard-pressed to find a freshman big man who plays harder than Oscar Tshiebwe. With a seemingly never-ending motor, he is always an impact player and bings and extremely physical frame to the table. At 6-foot-9 and 245 pounds, he is more than ready to play major minutes at the college level and can out-muscle just about anyone inside. His insane hustle allows him to consistently outplay other bigs as he pursues loose balls or makes recovery plays defensively. He still has a long way to go with regards to his offensive development but he is already a dynamic defender.
Although mostly known as an interior defender due to his size and strength, Tshiebwe also boasts extremely nimble feet that allow him to switch on the perimeter on occasion. On the offensive end, his ability to hustle after rebounds and second-chance opportunities will likely pay dividends at the college level. Even though he does not boast prototypical center size at just 6-foot-9, his strength and motor will yield consistent production right away as a freshman down the road. He might not be a star but he should be a major contributor from Day 1.
Tshiebwe looks posed to be a major frontcourt option right away. His rebounding ability is off the charts and his impact on the floor will be felt immediately. Rising sophomore Derek Culver is a lock to start in the frontcourt and it will be interesting to see how Tshiebwe performs while playing alongside him. They will likely be two of the best players on the WVU roster and they could make up an elite frontcourt duo if they are able to coexist well.
West Virginia’s 2019 recruiting class is certainly interesting with its mix of experienced JUCO talent and incoming freshmen. After a disappointing campaign a year ago, hopes are high for the Mountaineers heading into 2019-20 and this group is a major reason why.