Oscar Tshiebwe, no. 34, center / power forward for the Kentucky Wildcats, playing in 2022. (Image courtesy of Chris Gillespie.) Hover to zoom.
On April 13, one of the Bluegrass State’s biggest basketball stars was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel at the 2022 Governor’s Prayer Breakfast.
Curadham Powell of WLKY (Louisville) reported that Kentucky Wildcat Oscar Tshiebwe, the event’s keynote speaker, “gave some inspirational comments, attributing many of them to his upbringing with his mother” and then Governor Andy Beshear asked him to stay on stage for an unscripted presentation.
“One of the things I’m able to do as governor is make you a Colonel,” Governor Beshear said. “So, let me introduce you to Colonel Tshiebwe!” He then presented the 22-year-old basketball player with framed letters patent officially announcing his colonelcy.
Powell listed Tshiebwe’s basketball credits: “He averaged a nation-leading 5.3 offensive rebounds and 9.9 defensive rebounds per game—”a jaw-dropping average of 15.2 rebounds in the 2021–22 season.” His field-goal percentage was 61, he averaged 32 minutes, and started in all 34 games of Kentucky’s season. Powell noted that Tshiebwe “was named the unanimous National Player of the Year, winning every single award with that title. . . . He quickly became a fan favorite, and now Kentucky fans are waiting with bated breath to see if he will come back for his last year of college eligibility.”
Did the governor’s Kentucky Colonel commission convince the basketball star to stay rather than enter the NBA draft? A week after the Prayer Breakfast, on April 20, Tshiebwe announced he will return to the Kentucky Wildcats in his senior year, for the 2022–2023 men’s basketball season.
His choice probably didn’t surprise anyone who attended the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast. “I love being here,” he said. “To be part of Kentucky is a dream come true for me.”
Sports editor Keith Taylor of Kentucky Today captured this shot of Governor Andy Beshear greeting Wildcats star Oscar Tshiebwe at the 2022 Governor’s Prayer Breakfast.
ESPN staff writer Jeff Borzello covered Tshiebwe’s announcement (made on SportsCenter). “With Tshiebwe back in the fold,” Borzello wrote, “along with the potential return of starters Keion Brooks Jr. and Sahvir Wheeler and the addition of five-star recruits Chris Livingston and Cason Wallace, Kentucky should open the season as a Final Four favorite.”
Kentucky head coach John Calipari had this to say about Tshiebwe: “The things that he’s done haven’t been done for 50 years. Let me say this again: The things that he’s done haven’t been done for 50 years. He plays his heart out, and finds ways to impact every game. I’m proud of him, and it’s not only on the court. He’s so thankful and faith-based and he’s a joy to coach.”
Oscar Tshiebwe is well along his way on a career path of awards and accolades. Fans of Kentucky basketball can collect sport-related mementoes and souvenirs by searching for “Kentucky basketball” on auction venues like eBay. A recent search turned up these—a small sampling of the tokens, medals, and related collectibles you can find online.
A silver-dollar-sized 1986/1987 “schedule coin” of the Kentucky Wildcats. (Image courtesy of rcredsfan.)
A Franklin Mint bronze “coin-medal” honoring University of Kentucky Wildcats coach Adolph Rupp. Sculpted by Philip Nathan and Harold Faulkner. “A tribute both to individuality and to team spirit, this commemorative marks the thousandth victory of the University of Kentucky basketball team,” the Franklin Mint announced. Adolph Rupp guided the team to its 800th victory under his coaching aegis just two weeks later. The medal was authorized by the team itself, and minted in silver (with the first 25 specimens presented to Coach Rupp and to members of the squad) and in bronze. (Image courtesy of NealandJulie123.)
A dollar-sized antiqued-bronze “schedule coin” for Kentucky football and basketball. Longtime exonumia dealer Dick Grinolds of Minneapolis (known by the seller name “celluloid” on eBay) commented, “When I acquired the piece I was truly surprised that Joe B. allowed a whole side of the medal to be used for Wildcat football. That was kind of him. Note the football opener with V.P.I.—when is the last time you’ve seen Tech called that in a sports related reference?” (Image courtesy of Dick Grinolds.)
A Basketball Hall of Fame medal for Kentucky Wildcats honoree Cliff Hagan. (Image courtesy of eBay seller stagecoachguy.)
In 2020 the United States Mint released three commemorative coins celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Each of the coins—a half dollar, a silver dollar, and a $5 gold piece—has a convex surface, making the basketball pop out. The program also included an innovative colorized Proof silver dollar. These coins aren’t specifically Kentucky-related, but the Basketball Hall of Fame has honored more than a half dozen Kentucky players, as well as Kentucky coaches, broadcasters, and others. C.M. Newton, Cliff Hagan, Frank Ramsey, Adrian Smith, Louie Dampier, Pat Riley, Dan Issel, Adrian Smith, Adolph Rupp, Rick Pitino, John Calipari, and Cawood Ledford are among the Commonwealth’s honorees.
A fine collection of basketball-related coins, tokens, and medals awaits the avid Kentucky fan.
Cliff Hagan in the 1953–1954 basketball season, pictured in the Kentuckian yearbook.
2020 $5 gold coin commemorating the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. (Image courtesy of the United States Mint.)
Dennis Tucker is the publisher of Whitman Publishing, a leading producer of books, storage and display supplies, and other resources for collectors and hobbyists. He was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel in March 2021 for his career in book publishing and his promotion of the Commonwealth’s status as an important subject in numismatics. His column “From the Colonel’s Desk” explores the Bluegrass State’s rich connections to American coins, tokens, medals, paper money, private currency, and related artifacts. To read more, visit the “From the Colonel’s Desk” archives.
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