WVU's Oscar Tshiebwe steps away from program

West Virginia men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins announced Friday sophomore forward Oscar Tshiebwe, a Kennedy Catholic graduate, is stepping away from the program for personal reasons.

“Oscar has our full support, and we certainly wish him the best during this time,” Huggins said in a statement.

Later in a video press conference with reporters, Huggins said he doesn’t expect Tshiebwe to return to the program.

Huggins said redshirt freshman forward Jalen Bridges will take on an expanded role, but others also could step in depending on the opposition. He also said it will allow junior forward Derek Culver a chance to thrive.

“We’re going to win more games. I think this gives us an opportunity to spread the floor a little bit more,” Huggins said. “Guys like JB will be able to spread the floor, make shots. It will give Derek a lot more room to work down there.

“Anytime you’re a man down, it opens up opportunities. It’s what they make of it. That’s up to them.”

Tshiebwe averaged 8.5 points and 7.8 rebounds through 10 games this season.

This is another setback for the No. 9-ranked Mountaineers (8-2, 1-1 Big 12), who announced Wednesday freshman forward Isiah Cottrell would miss the rest of the season with an Achilles injury.

“We’ve got guys that have worked their butts off and have worked their butts off all summer to get an opportunity,” Huggins said. “I am more than confident that they will do a great job for us.”

Tshiebwe has struggled at times this season, though he had 12 points and 15 rebounds in Tuesday’s 73-51 win over Northeastern.

Last season, Tshiebwe was named to the All-Big 12 second team after leading the team in scoring (11.2 ppg) and rebounding (9.3 rpg) and starting all 31 games as a freshman.

He was selected to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team and the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team.

The 6-foot-9 center/forward grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and didn’t start playing basketball until 2014. He moved to the U.S. in 2015 before starting high school at Mountain Mission School in Virginia. He transferred to Kennedy Catholic in Hermitage before his junior year.

There, he helped District 10’s Kennedy Catholic win two PIAA titles, first in Class A and then in Class 6A. He was a first-team all-state selection each season, averaging more than 20 points. He was the Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American as a senior and was a five-star recruit by Rivals.com.

WVU is scheduled to return to action at 4 p.m. Saturday in a Big 12 showdown at Oklahoma.

Tshiebwe Steps Away from Mountaineer Basketball https://t.co/yzgqyywYQP

— WVU Men's Basketball (@WVUhoops) January 1, 2021