Emily McDonald, Kentucky's most recent commit, is hard at work recruiting potential teammates

It wasn’t too long ago when Kentucky got a commitment from four-star guard Emily McDonald. Adding her to the 2026 class was big, but why stop there?

While it seems like Kentucky may be done recruiting in the 2026 class, they’re just getting started with 2027 recruits. Kenny Brooks and the staff hosted three 2027 five-star recruits for visits during Big Blue Madness, and since then, two of those three recruits have posted their visit photos in Instagram.

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McDonald, seeing these posts, has taken it upon herself (along with fellow 2026 Kentucky commit Maddyn Greenway) to recruit some potential future teammates to Lexington.

“YESSSSS 🔥,” the four-star commented under Haylen Ayers‘ visit post. Greenway also chimed in with a “YES I LOVE”. Plus, shout out to current Cat Josie Gilvin for hitting Ayers with the “Love it”. It seems like a really small gesture, but sometimes, it’s the really small things that help out in recruiting.

Oh, and Ayers’ reply to McDonald’s comment should get Big Blue Nation excited. “future teamies again????”, she wrote.

Additionally, McDonald and Greenway went on over to Caroline Bradley‘s Instagram post from her Kentucky visit and showed her some love too. Not to mention, Ayers was in Bradley’s comment section too.

Maybe the two top five recruits will join forces in Lexington.

Regardless, it’s pretty exciting to see that Kentucky is in the mix for the high-quality, generational talents. The staff already has a trio of them on the way to Lexington — can they keep their momentum on the recruiting trail going?

Rundown of prospects offered by Kentucky

2026

• 5-star post Olivia Vukosa – No. 3 overall, No. 1 post – Christ the King (FL) – Missed top 5
• 5-star point guard Kate Harpring – No. 4 overall, No. 1 point guard – Marist (GA) – Committed to North Carolina
• 5-star guard Trinity Jones – No. 11 overall, No. 4 guard – Bolingbrook (IL)
• 5-star point guard Maddyn Greenway – No. 13 overall, No. 3 point guard – Providence Academy (MN) – Committed to Kentucky
• 5-star guard Bella Flemings – No. 16 overall, No. 6 guard – Brennan (TX) – Committed to Duke
• 4-star wing Savvy Swords – No. 19 overall, No. 5 wing – Long Island Lutheran (NY) – Committed to Kentucky
• 4-star guard Emily McDonald – No. 23 overall, No. 8 guard – Long Island Lutheran (NY) – Committed to Kentucky
• 4-star guard Jenica Lewis – No. 24 overall, No. 10 guard – Johnston (IA) – Missed top 5
• 4-star guard Sanai Green – No. 25 overall, No. 11 guard – Long Island Lutheran (NY) – Committed to Duke
• 4-star wing Bella Ragone – No. 30 overall, No. 9 wing – Mill Creek (GA) – Committed to Notre Dame
• 4-star forward Amari Byles – No. 37 overall, No. 7 forward – DeSoto (TX)
• 4-star forward Kamora Pruitt – No. 38 overall, No. 8 forward – Legion Prep Academy (TX) – Committed to NC State
• 4-star forward Mimi Thiero – No. 42 overall, No. 10 forward – Quaker Valley (PA) – Committed to Maryland
• 4-star guard Whitley Rogers – No. 49 overall, No. 18 guard – Little Rock Christian Academy (AR) – Missed top 5

2027

• 5-star guard Ivanna Wilson Manyacka – No. 2 overall, No. 1 guard – Bullis (MD)
• 5-star post Caroline Bradley – No. 3 overall, No. 1 post – Oak Grove (LA)
• 5-star guard Haylen Ayers – No. 5 overall, No. 2 guard – University School of Jackson (TN)
• 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. 9 overall, No. 3 guard – Belleville (MI)
• 4-star point guard De’Andra Minor – No. 17 overall, No. 3 point guard – Grind Prep Academy (OK)
• 4-star forward Sydney Mobley – No. 21 overall, No. 4 forward – Big Walnut (OH)
• 4-star guard Madeline Mignery – No. 40 overall, No. 15 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 Dakhari Blankumsee – No. 9 overall, No. 4 guard – Winton Woods (OH)
• 4-star guard Janiyah Hargrave – No. 15 overall, No. 8 guard – Fairmont (OH)
• 4-star guard Erin Thomas – No. 21 overall, No. 11 guard – Princeton (OH)
• 4-star guard Jhaliana Guy – No. 22 overall, No. 12 guard – Bettendorf (IA) – Committed to Stanford
• 4-star point guard Easton McCollough – Unranked – Farmington (AR)

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)