Kentucky WBB offers Olivia Vukosa (No. 2 in 2026), Brazilian prospect Manuella Alves
Kenny Brooks just made a big move by bringing in Penn transfer Jordan Obi for the 2024-25 season, but he isn’t done working on the recruiting trail.
On Thursday night, 2026 five-star forward Olivia Vukosa announced on social media that Brooks and Kentucky had extended her an offer. Vukosa is ranked as the No. 2 player in the nation, per ESPN. Additionally, class of 2025 Brazilian prospect Manuella Alves announced that she had also received an offer from Kentucky on Thursday night.
More on Olivia Vukosa (2026)
We’ve seen Brooks raise the bar at Kentucky, and he continues to do so here. Vukosa is (obviously) very, very talented and would be a major get for the program.
In the 2023 FIBA U16 European Championships, Vukosa averaged 22.6 points and 17.1 rebounds per game, both of which were tops in the event. At Christ the King (FL), Vukosa averaged 18.2 points, 14.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 3.5 blocks per game this past season.
Vukosa, if she were to commit to Kentucky, would join an accomplished lineage of international prospects under Kenny Brooks. Additionally, there seems to be a good amount of Elizabeth Kitley in Vukosa’s game — she ended up being pretty good for the Hokies.
The Croatian phenom holds offers from dozens and dozens of programs. The most notable ones are UConn, South Carolina, Iowa, Stanford, and Notre Dame. Now, you can add UK to that long list of bidders.
More on Manuella Alves (2025)
Alves is a 6-foot-3 Brazilian prospect who has spent her time growing up and showing out on the international stage. Most recently, Alves played on the same Brazilian national team as former South Carolina Gamecock Kamilla Cardoso, who just went 3rd to the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
In an article by ESPN, Jose Neto, the coach for the Brazilian national team, spoke highly of the high school junior.
“We want to mix experienced players and new talent on the national team,” Neto said. “Other players are starting to shine, like Manuella Alves, who’s only [18] and is still in high school.”
In the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup, Alves averaged 6.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per outing in seven total games played. In the opening game of the season, Alves posted a 10-point, 12-rebound performance against China in a 32-minute effort.
Alves possesses the size and the versatility that Kenny Brooks typically likes to see in his players. Additionally, playing alongside and against the best players in the world has only served as a benefit in her development.
Let’s see if Brooks can make yet another splash here in the not-so-distant future.
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