Kentucky women’s basketball head coach Kenny Brooks is halting his efforts to recruit any class of 2027 players.
We all probably saw this kind of statement coming. The reason is directly tied to the new fifth-year eligibility rules and maybe the best overall class in Kentucky WBB history.
With five years to play, every player currently on the Wildcats’ roster is eligible to return next season.
While the coaching staff considered several highly touted 2027 prospects, they took a hard look at their current
freshmen and returning players and decided they already had a winning hand.
“We kind of took a pause,” Brooks told reporters this week. “We kind of took a pause, especially because of the implementation of the fifth year… we looked at our freshmen group, and we were like, okay, I don’t know how much better, or if they are better than this group. So why don’t we just go ahead and focus our attention on the ’26 class and everyone else, because everyone on our team is eligible to come back next year. Everyone.”
Instead of spending time building bonds with new players or scouting talent, the staff is pivoting their high school recruiting efforts toward the 2028 class.
“But we really focused on the ’28 class, and we’ve got some really good leads on some ’28s. But as far as ’27s, unless something just crazy happens, we probably will not sign a ’27. And that’s intentional because we wanted to look at this group because of the implementation of the fifth year.”
The Current Roster
- Me’Arah O’Neal (#2)-Averaged 13 and 6 at Florida while shooting 38 percent from deep.
- Emily McDonald (#3)-A freshman from Long Island Lutheran H.S. (NY). ESPN ranked her as the No. 21 overall player in the Class of 2026.
- Jemma Amoore (#4)– Will add depth after spending previous seasons playing at Sacramento State and IU-Indianapolis.
- Ajša Sivka (#7)– A former top-10 WNBA pick who has all the talent to be a great college basketball player. She is mobile, 6’4, and can stroke it from all over the court.
- Asia Boone (#8) Seeking to be a pilot after her playing career is over, Boone has a chance to break Kentucky’s all-time 3-point makes if she plays two more years. She made 96 last year; Rhyne Howard holds the record with 284.
- Gabby Brooks (#11) A leader in the locker room and someone who can help teach what her dad is asking.
- Dominika Paurová (#12) Finally healthy after two ACL injuries, Paurová is someone who will do anything the team needs. Expect her to be a fan favorite.
- Clara Strack (#13) One of the best players in the country. If she can get a little more physical and turn it over less, Strack could become the best player in college over the next two years.
- Diana Collins (#20) A steady hand in the backcourt, Diana knows what it takes to win in the SEC after spending 2 years down in Tuscaloosa.
- Savvy Swords (#21) Another 5-star recruit, teammate of Emily McDonald who can do a little of everything on the court.
- Maddyn Greenway (#30) One of the best pure scorers in the high school ranks last year, she put up staggering numbers in high school, averaging 32.9 points, 8.8 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per game. This is my player to watch on this year’s team.
- Ayanna Patterson (#34)– 6-foot-2 redshirt junior forward from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Arriving from UConn, she was originally rated the No. 4 overall prospect and the No. 1 wing in the Class of 2022 by ESPN; injuries and a lack of playing time saw her come to Lexington.
It is highly unlikely that every single player returns; that’s just the nature of college basketball. But they could, and that gives Kentucky a lot of leeway in recruiting.
The coaching staff can help these young ladies develop, keep continuity, and make a strong push to add one or two difference-makers if needed in the portal.
I’m interested to see how it works out, and if we see more coaches simply opting out of recruiting high school players. It could massively backfire if players underperform, but it could also really pay dividends.
What do you think of this strategy?
