'I really felt at home with them.' 2026 five-star Olivia Vukosa talks interest in Kentucky WBB

Olivia Vukosa is one of the top prospects in the 2026 class, being ranked as the No. 4 overall player in Rivals’ recruiting rankings. The highly-coveted five-star big has a top seven of Ohio State, UConn, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, LSU and Kentucky.

Her interest in the Cats stems from a number of things, but the culture around the program is the most appealing part about Kentucky to her.

“I love the family atmosphere that [Kentucky] brings,” she revealed to KSR. “I really felt at home with them. Coach Kenny [Brooks] had the same energy at Virginia Tech, and I’ve talked to Coach [Josh] Petersen a lot too.”

In fact, she’s talked to Petersen more than she has with Brooks himself. Their relationship — which is a strong one — goes back to his days at Miami. “It’s very good,” Vukosa said of her relationship with Petersen. “I used to talk to him a lot at Miami, so it didn’t feel like a big change — like you’re still the same person to me.”

She said that her favorite thing about Kentucky was the family atmosphere, so it’s certainly a positive that a family atmosphere is exactly what she wants in a program.

“I’m definitely looking for a tight-knit family atmosphere, like I said. I want to be able to go and ask if I need something or if I’m struggling, I need help. I want to know that I could go to them rather than call my parents, wherever I am.”

On top of that, Brooks’ resume with developing post players is certainly intriguing to Vukosa. After all, Liz Kitley became the best player in Virginia Tech history, and Clara Strack blossomed into the SEC Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore. For someone like Vukosa, it’s hard to not be appealed by that.

A lot of bigs like to stick around the block and play with their backs to the basket, but that’s not the case with Vukosa. Watching how Kitley and Strack play, she feels that she can thrive under Brooks’ coaching.

“I love how he trains them,” Vukosa added. “I mean, he let’s them do whatever. I’d feel very comfortable with him and him letting me shoot, letting me dribble.”

Additionally, she told KSR that she has several official visits lined up. First, she’ll visit Ohio State (Aug. 28-30). Following that, Vukosa will head to Texas (Sept. 5-7) and North Carolina (Oct. 26-28), which On3’s Talia Goodman also reported. She’ll also visit LSU at some point in the month of October.

While there isn’t a date set, Vukosa wants to take an official visit to Kentucky (as well as her other finalists) before making a commitment. “I’m definitely looking to visit Kentucky at some point,” Vukosa said.

Kentucky has just as good a shot as anybody in her recruitment. Hopefully, Brooks and the staff can reel her in and assemble what would probably be the best freshman class in program history.

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. 6 guard – Brennan (TX)
• 5-star wing Savvy Swords – No. 18 overall, No. 4 wing – Long Island Lutheran (NY) – Committed to Kentucky
• 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 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 – Etiwanda (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)