2027 four-star guard De'Andra Minor looking to build on her 'real good relationship' with Kenny Brooks

If you don’t know by now, there are really three main things that makes Kentucky so attractive to recruits: UK’s investment into women’s basketball and its facilities, the prestige of playing at a school with such a rich basketball history, and Kenny Brooks.

The man has an undeniable track record. Not only has he developed many players into future pros like Georgia Amoore, Elizabeth Kitley, Taylor Soule and now even Dazia Lawrence, but he’s also been to a Final Four and won 11 total conference championships. But that’s just part of it.

Brooks has also instilled a family-like culture on his teams — something that the late Lefty Driesell inspired him to do in his playing days at James Madison. That means a lot to 18 year old kids who are being asked to move hundreds or even thousands of miles away from home to play basketball.

That’s also the case with De’Andra Minor, a four-star guard in the 2027 class and the top-ranked prospect out of the state of Oklahoma. She recently talked about her interest in Kentucky with KSR, and it sounds like conversations have been positive between her and Brooks.

“It’s been good [talking with Kentucky],” Minor said. “We have a real good relationship. I love [Kenny Brooks’] environment. I love talking to Coach Kenny. They’ve been telling me about how they love my game ever since they offered me last year. It’s been good. They’ve been watching me and talking to me, so I’ve felt the love.”

Like most every recruit, she’s looking for that family-like culture that we just mentioned. Additionally, she feels that Brooks and Kentucky have done a good job of making her feel like Kentucky could be her next home.

“I’m looking for a home away from home,” Minor mentioned. “That’s important — like a relationship where I feel I’m at home. I feel like [Kenny Brooks] is making me feel that good enough.”

Hopefully, she ends up in Lexington and gets to be a part of that family-like culture firsthand while winning some games along the way.

Rundown of prospects offered by Kentucky

2026

• 5-star post Olivia Vukosa – No. 3 overall, No. 1 post – Christ the King (FL)
• 5-star point guard Kate Harpring – No. 4 overall, No. 1 point guard – Marist (GA)
• 5-star guard Trinity Jones – No. 7 overall, No. 3 guard – Bolingbrook (IL)
• 5-star point guard Maddyn Greenway – No. 11 overall, No. 2 point guard – Providence Academy (MN) – Committed to Kentucky
• 5-star guard Bella Flemings – No. 12 overall, No. 5 guard – Brennan (TX)
• 5-star wing Savvy Swords – No. 18 overall, No. 4 wing – Long Island Lutheran (NY) – Committed to Kentucky
• 4-star guard Jenica Lewis – No. 19 overall, No. 7 guard – Johnston (IA)
• 4-star forward Amari Byles – No. 22 overall, No. 4 forward – DeSoto (TX)
• 4-star guard Sanai Green – No. 23 overall, No. 9 guard – Long Island Lutheran (NY) – Committed to Duke
• 4-star forward Kamora Pruitt – No. 24 overall, No. 5 forward – Legion Prep Academy (TX)
• 4-star wing Bella Ragone – No. 28 overall, No. 7 wing – Mill Creek (GA) – Committed to Notre Dame
• 4-star forward Mimi Thiero – No. 35 overall, No. 9 forward – Quaker Valley (PA)
• 4-star guard Emily McDonald – No. 39 overall, No. 13 guard – Long Island Lutheran (NY)
• 4-star guard Whitley Rogers – No. 41 overall, No. 15 guard – Little Rock Christian Academy (AR)

2027

• 5-star guard Ivanna Wilson Manyacka – No. 2 overall, No. 1 guard – Bullis (MD)
• 5-star wing Jordyn Palmer – No. 6 overall, No. 1 wing – Westtown (PA)
• 5-star wing Micah Ojo – No. 7 overall, No. 2 wing – Princess Anne (VA)
• 5-star guard Sydney Savoury – No. 15 overall, No. 4 guard – Belleville (MI)
• 4-star point guard De’Andra Minor – No. 21 overall, No. 3 point guard – Grind Prep Academy (OK)
• 4-star forward Sydney Mobley – No. 22 overall, No. 6 forward – Big Walnut (OH)
• 4-star guard Madeline Mignery – No. 33 overall, No. 11 guard – Cardinal Mooney (FL)
• Forward Isabella Marion – Unranked (international) – Denmark

2028

• 4-star forward Sydney Douglas – No. 2 overall, No. 1 forward – Centennial (CA)
• 4-star point guard Chloe Johnson – No. 3 overall, No. 1 point guard – Marshall (MN)
• 4-star wing Ella Peper – No. 4 overall, No. 1 wing – Dexter Southfield (MA)
• 4-star guard Jhaliana Guy – No. 19 overall, No. 10 guard – Bettendorf (IA) – Committed to Stanford
• 4-star guard Erin Thomas – No. 22 overall, No. 11 guard – Princeton (OH)

2029

• Center Jayden McClain – Unranked (no rankings for 2029 yet) – Ryle (KY)
• Wing Carib Morris – Unranked (no rankings for 2029 yet) – Cresset Christian Academy (NC)

(via ESPN’s SportsCenter NEXT Rankings)