PERSONAL

Born Nov . 27 in Lubumbashi , Democratic Republic of the Congo … Parents are Mbuyi and Kaya Rosalie Tshiebwe … Has five siblings with three brothers , Bevi , Denphin and Debaba , and two sisters , Cenina and Maggie … Major is communication … Chose Kentucky over North Carolina State , Miami and Illinois … Nickname is “ Big O ” … Has a 7-foot-5 wingspan … Hidden talent is the ability to ride a bike backwards … Lists his parents as his greatest influence … His favorite food is Fufu ( Congolese food ) … He meditates and listens to music pregame … Favorite movies are the Rush Hour trilogy … Off-the-court hobbies include playing video games and listening to music … Chose No . 34 because Hakeem Olajuwon is his favorite frontcourt player of all-time … Lists Kobe Bryant as his all-time favorite player and Kevin Durant as his favorite current player … Chose Kentucky over NC State , Miami ( Fla .) and Illinois and originally considered UK out of high school .

2021-22 Unanimous National

Player of the Year ( Sporting

News , Associated Press , United States Basketball Writer ’ s Association , National Association of Basketball Coaches , Naismith Trophy , Wooden Award ) … First player in program history to win all six NCAA-recognized

awards … First player in SEC history to win all six in the same season … Unanimous All-America First-Team honoree by the AP , Sporting News , USBWA and NABC … Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award winner for the nation ’ s best

center … NABC ’ s Pete Newell Big Man of the Year … SEC Player of the Year … First- Team All-SEC by both the league ’ s coaches and media … Naismith Defensive Player of the Year finalist … All-SEC Defensive Team as selected by the league ’ s coaches … Led the country in rebounding ( 15.1 ), offensive rebounds per game ( 5.3 ) and defensive rebounding percentage ( 34.6 %), also ranked second in offensive rebounding percentage ( 19.4 %) … Snared 515 rebounds on the season , topping any other Division I collegiate player … The mark ranks as the third-most in program history and is one of just three players to tally 500 or more … Became a 1,000-point collegiate scorer in the final game of the season … Set a UK single-season record with 28 double-doubles … Was the first player to average at least 15 points and at least 15 rebounds per game since Drake ’ s Lewis Lloyd and Alcorn State ’ s Larry Smith did so in 1979-80 … First majorconference player to average 15-15 since UCLA ’ s Bill Walton in 1972-73 … First UK player to tally those numbers since Bob Burrow in 1954-55 … Finished the season as the only major-conference