Kentucky has top five 2026 recruiting class, best in SEC ahead of early signing period

Kenny Brooks and Kentucky have been killing it on the recruiting trail, at least according to Kentucky’s standards. For the first time in program history, Kentucky has not one, but two top 10 prospects committed in Savvy Swords (No. 9) and Maddyn Greenway (No. 10) if you go by the Rivals Industry Rankings.

On top of that, Kentucky also picked up a commitment from four-star guard Emily McDonald (No. 36) in early October to really put this class over the top. But how does Kentucky’s recruiting class compare on the national level?

According to ESPN’s Shane Laflin, the Cats have the fourth-best recruiting class in the country and the best one in the SEC. Kentucky sits behind USC, Duke and Notre Dame.

SIGNING WEEK ✍️ 📑 STARTS TOMORROW ‼️

We have three 5⭐️ players to go and 13 of the 🔝💯 left to announce. Let’s take a look at the current Top 10 recruiting classes – with plenty more to change before Nov 19th 👀

📰: https://t.co/y9Ck8ii4OY pic.twitter.com/1nBJGSlULX

— Shane Laflin (@ShaneLaflin) November 11, 2025

Greenway was Kentucky’s first commit in the class, choosing UK over the likes of Stanford, UCLA, Duke, Clemson and then Iowa, where her mom was a track star and her dad played linebacker before a decade-plus long career playing for the Minnesota Vikings.

Not only is she an elite basketball player, but she’s a monster on the track and on the pitch too.

5⭐️ Kentucky commit Maddyn Greenway has broken the all-time career goals record in Minnesota girls’ soccer (204).

Cats are getting a generational athlete at point guard.

(🎥: AOMinnesota | Instagram) pic.twitter.com/iKgGtLI3NB

— Phoenix Stevens (@PStevensKSR) October 10, 2025

Swords was Kentucky’s next commit, picking the Cats over UCLA, South Carolina, Notre Dame and then Michigan, where her sister, Syla, plays. Then, her high school teammate Long Island Lutheran (NY), McDonald, would eventually commit to Kentucky to round out the 2026 class.

It didn’t take long for Brooks to get things going at Kentucky, especially out on the recruiting trail. They’ve already secured multiple top 10 prospects and a highly-rated four-star for the future — pretty impressive in year two.

Rundown of prospects offered by Kentucky

2026

• 5-star post Olivia Vukosa – No. 3 overall, No. 1 post – Christ the King (FL) – Committed to UConn
• 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) – Committed to Clemson
• 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) – Committed to Notre Dame
• 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) – Committed to Notre Dame
• 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)