MORGANTOWN — West Virginia coach Bob Huggins has announced that Oscar Tshiebwe signed a national letter of intent Monday for the 2019-’20 academic year.
Tshiebwe, a 6-foot-9, 245-pound forward from Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, is ranked as a 5-star recruit and top 25 senior by numerous scouting services. He has a 7-foot-5 wingspan.
He is ranked No. 21 by Rivals, No. 22 by Scout, No. 22 by 247Sports and No. 32 by ESPN in the 2019 recruiting class.
“Oscar gives us a force inside,” Huggins said. “He is one of the elite high school rebounders in the country, and his body will enable him to rebound at the collegiate level. Oscar is a very hard worker who continues to work at his game, and he will become an elite scorer.”
Tshiebwe attends Kennedy Catholic High School in Hermitage, Pa., playing for coach Rick Mancino. Kennedy Catholic will play at Morgantown High on Dec. 22. Junior forward Sagaba Konate also attended Kennedy Catholic High.
Previously, he attended Mountain Mission School in Grundy, Va., for two years and Institut Majikazo in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Tshiebwe helped key Kennedy High to the Class 1A PIAA state championship last season. In the finals, he posted 24 points to go with 19 rebounds in the win over Shamokin Lourdes.
He was named first team All-State by the Pennsylvania’s sports writers. He reached double figures in every game, scoring 523 points for the season.
Tshiebwe played AAU basketball for the ITPS Wildcats, averaging 21.3 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 61 percent from the floor.
He chose West Virginia over Kentucky, Baylor and Illinois.
Tshiebwe is the second recruit to sign with West Virginia during the November signing period. Last week, Huggins announced the signing of 6-foot-2 guard Miles McBride from Cincinnati (Moeller HS).
