- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,130,893
- Reaction score
- 59
It didn't take long for Kenny Brooks to find success with Kentucky women's basketball. He's done it everywhere else he's been.
The Wildcats head coach took James Madison to the NCAA Tournament five times and led Virginia Tech to a Final Four before making his way to Lexington. Brooks knows what winning takes.
Now entering his third season leading the UK program, Brooks feels confident. He's sure this team can be one of the most explosive offensive groups in the country.
"It would probably be the best shooting team I've ever coached in my life," Brooks told The Courier Journal during SEC spring meetings.
It's a bold statement to make considering what Kentucky has done since Brooks took over in 2024. Last season, the Wildcats averaged 8.3 3-pointers per game, which was 31st in all of NCAA Division I. They were led by Amelia Hassett, who knocked down 99 total triples.
Right behind Hassett was Asia Boone, who connected on 96 total 3-pointers. While Hassett has run out of eligibility, Boone will return to Kentucky for her senior season as one of the team's top perimeter threats.
But it isn't just Boone who is capable of scoring from deep. When Brooks says he believes his team can score, he means everyone from everywhere.
"We're gonna have a really good balance," Brooks said. "I think everyone is capable of knocking down 3-point shots. ... This will probably be the best 3-point shooting team, and it's not just the guards that can shoot them — our post players can shoot them."
All-American center Clara Strack put that on display last season, stepping out and hitting 25 triples on the year. She'll be joined by Florida transfer Me'Arah O'Neal, a 6-foot-4 forward who shot 38.1% from the field and showcased the ability to stretch the floor during her sophomore season with the Gators.
The remainder of Kentucky's roster is a mix of talented veteran transfers and a loaded freshmen class.
Not only did Brooks recruit O'Neal, who started every game at Florida last season, but she is joined by other experienced, older players.
Diana Collins enters the program after spending the last two seasons as a starter at Alabama, where she averaged 8.6 points per game and shot 39.8% from deep.
Ayanna Patterson was also brought in from UConn. The 6-foot-2 forward has been riddled with injuries throughout her collegiate career, but was a member of the 2025 Huskies team that won the national championship.
Outside of those three who played collegiate level basketball last season, Kentucky also brought in Slovenian guard Ajša Sivka, who was selected 10th overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2025 WNBA Draft before deciding to play collegiately at Kentucky before beginning her stateside professional career.
This team becomes deep quickly due to the quality of freshmen that will be joining the program.
Brooks is bringing three McDonald's All-Americans — Maddyn Greenway, Emily McDonald and Savvy Swords — who were rated as five-star prospects by ESPN's rankings.
They'll each be able to come right in and contribute, but out of the three, Greenway seems to have the clearest path to immediate playing time. She'll fill a point guard role with the loss of Tonie Morgan, and she can score. Greenway set the Minnesota state scoring record, recording 5,621 points over her high school career. Her offensive production and ability to create shots could make her an instant impact player for the Wildcats.
With proven scorers, experienced transfers and one of the nation’s top freshman classes, Kentucky appears built to play fast and score in bunches. If Brooks’ prediction proves true, the Wildcats could emerge as one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the country.
College sports enterprise reporter Payton Titus contributed to this report.
Reach sports trending writer Alaina Morris at [email protected] and follow her on X at @alainammorris.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky roster 2026-27, what Kenny Brooks said at SEC spring meetings
Continue reading...
The Wildcats head coach took James Madison to the NCAA Tournament five times and led Virginia Tech to a Final Four before making his way to Lexington. Brooks knows what winning takes.
Now entering his third season leading the UK program, Brooks feels confident. He's sure this team can be one of the most explosive offensive groups in the country.
"It would probably be the best shooting team I've ever coached in my life," Brooks told The Courier Journal during SEC spring meetings.
It's a bold statement to make considering what Kentucky has done since Brooks took over in 2024. Last season, the Wildcats averaged 8.3 3-pointers per game, which was 31st in all of NCAA Division I. They were led by Amelia Hassett, who knocked down 99 total triples.
Right behind Hassett was Asia Boone, who connected on 96 total 3-pointers. While Hassett has run out of eligibility, Boone will return to Kentucky for her senior season as one of the team's top perimeter threats.
But it isn't just Boone who is capable of scoring from deep. When Brooks says he believes his team can score, he means everyone from everywhere.
"We're gonna have a really good balance," Brooks said. "I think everyone is capable of knocking down 3-point shots. ... This will probably be the best 3-point shooting team, and it's not just the guards that can shoot them — our post players can shoot them."
All-American center Clara Strack put that on display last season, stepping out and hitting 25 triples on the year. She'll be joined by Florida transfer Me'Arah O'Neal, a 6-foot-4 forward who shot 38.1% from the field and showcased the ability to stretch the floor during her sophomore season with the Gators.
The remainder of Kentucky's roster is a mix of talented veteran transfers and a loaded freshmen class.
Who did Kentucky bring in from the portal?
Not only did Brooks recruit O'Neal, who started every game at Florida last season, but she is joined by other experienced, older players.
Diana Collins enters the program after spending the last two seasons as a starter at Alabama, where she averaged 8.6 points per game and shot 39.8% from deep.
Ayanna Patterson was also brought in from UConn. The 6-foot-2 forward has been riddled with injuries throughout her collegiate career, but was a member of the 2025 Huskies team that won the national championship.
Outside of those three who played collegiate level basketball last season, Kentucky also brought in Slovenian guard Ajša Sivka, who was selected 10th overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2025 WNBA Draft before deciding to play collegiately at Kentucky before beginning her stateside professional career.
Who are the incoming freshmen?
This team becomes deep quickly due to the quality of freshmen that will be joining the program.
Brooks is bringing three McDonald's All-Americans — Maddyn Greenway, Emily McDonald and Savvy Swords — who were rated as five-star prospects by ESPN's rankings.
They'll each be able to come right in and contribute, but out of the three, Greenway seems to have the clearest path to immediate playing time. She'll fill a point guard role with the loss of Tonie Morgan, and she can score. Greenway set the Minnesota state scoring record, recording 5,621 points over her high school career. Her offensive production and ability to create shots could make her an instant impact player for the Wildcats.
With proven scorers, experienced transfers and one of the nation’s top freshman classes, Kentucky appears built to play fast and score in bunches. If Brooks’ prediction proves true, the Wildcats could emerge as one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the country.
College sports enterprise reporter Payton Titus contributed to this report.
Reach sports trending writer Alaina Morris at [email protected] and follow her on X at @alainammorris.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky roster 2026-27, what Kenny Brooks said at SEC spring meetings
Continue reading...
