MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Four-star Rivals big man Oscar Tshiebwe, the Mountaineers’ top target in the 2019 class, narrowed his finalists to West Virginia, Kentucky, Baylor and Illinois on Sunday.
The 6-foot-9 native of Congo is entering his senior season at Kennedy Catholic in Hermitage, Pa., the same program that produced current WVU center Sagaba Konate. Tshiebwe lives with the same host-family legal guardians who housed Konate.
Having visited Morgantown several times, Tshiebwe is planning official visits to Baylor and Kentucky in September. Coach John Calipari has taken a strong interest, though Tshiebwe is believed to be on hold as the Wildcats await decisions from Rivals’ No. 1 overall prospect Vernon Carey and 7-footer James Wiseman (Rivals No. 3).
Tshiebwe recently got the better of Wiseman while going head-to-head at the Adidas Summer Championships.
The Mountaineers presented Tshiebwe his first Division I offer in July 2016, when he was attending Mountain Mission School in Grundy, Va. His stock has continue rising based on his nonstop rebounding and ability to run the floor. He’s up to No. 45 overall in the latest Rivals ratings for 2019. The 247 Sports service rates him a five-star prospect at No. 35, while ESPN ranks him 54th as a four-star.
Tshiebwe’s latest cutdown eliminated Kansas, Virginia, Georgetown and Ole Miss from the running. He previously dropped Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, Pitt, Georgia Tech, Rutgers and Penn State.
West Virginia’s 2019 class includes one commitment so far, Cincinnati point guard Miles McBride.