Kentucky WBB opens up in-person recruiting with plenty of visits and scholarship offers

Zack Geogheganby:Zack Geoghegan•06/11/21•

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(class of 2025 prospect ZaKiyah Johnson (middle) standing with Kentucky WBB coaching staff — via Twitter: @ZJohnson_06)

Basketball and football programs alike across the country are doing everything in their power to jump on the first in-person recruiting cycle in roughly a year and a half. We’ve already covered extensively on the site what’s happening with the Kentucky Men’s Basketball and Football teams, but now it’s time to check in on the ladies.

Head coach of Kentucky Women’s Basketball, Kyra Elzy, has been dishing out offers and hosting several important prospects to kick off the month of June. From four-star players about to start their final season of high school basketball to unknown prospects still in middle school, the coaching staff is covering all its bases. There’s also a couple of in-state recruits who made the short trip to Lexington for unofficial visits.

Let’s break down all of the offers that have been extended along with the visitors who have made it to campus since June began.

Class of 2022

Kara Dunn: 5-foot-11 wing – Kennesaw, GA (4-star)

In what was her second unofficial visit of the recruiting cycle, four-star wing Kara Dunn made the trip to Lexington on June 6 where she met with Coach Elzy and the rest of the Kentucky coaching staff. Dunn has held a Kentucky offer since October and has been stockpiling scholarships from a handful of Power 5 programs such as Georgia (first offer), Georgia Tech, Florida, Florida State, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, and several others.

Her first unofficial visit was to Georgia Tech a couple of days before heading to Lexington.

Gracie Merkle: 6-foot-6 center – Mt. Washington, KY (unranked)

If the name Gracie Merkle sounds familiar to any of you, that might be because she was recently at Rupp Arena playing on Bullitt East in its run during the Girl’s State Sweet 16 Tournament a few months back. The 6-foot-6 center isn’t ranked by top recruiting services, but she was tabbed as one of the top players in Kentucky this past season–making First Team All-State–and expects to improve even more heading into her senior season.

Merkle took her unofficial to Kentucky on June 5.

Class of 2023

Sayvia Sellers: 5-foot-7 point guard – Anchorage, AK (4-star)

If Jason Kidd is vouching for her, odds are high that Sayvia Sellers is going to be heavily recruited throughout the rest of her high school career. She’s a nationally ranked rising junior who picked up an offer from Kentucky back on June 3. And yes, Sellers does indeed play her high school ball up in Alaska.

Class of 2024

Joyce Edwards: 6-foot-2 forward – Camden, SC (4-star)

It’s not often that recruits who just finished up their freshman season earn four-star status, but that’s exactly what Joyce Edwards has done. She was named All-State and the 3A Player of the Year down in South Carolina while also excelling at both soccer and volleyball. Edwards earned her offer from Kentucky on June 5 and also holds scholarships from the likes of Mississippi State, Michigan, Tennessee, Florida, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Louisville, and Florida State.

Jordan Lee: 5-foot-11 forward – Stockton, CA (4-star)

If you were looking for a lanky forward who plays like a guard, look no further than Jordan Lee. Like Edwards, she’s earned four-star status as a rising high school sophomore and, like Sayvia Sellers, is another recruit playing under Jason Kidd’s Select Girl’s Team. Lee’s offer from the ‘Cats came on June 3, adding to her list that also includes California and Cincinnati.

Class of 2025

Jaylah Lampley: 6-foot-0 forward – Indianapolis, IN

One of two Lampley sisters on this list, Jaylah is just a year older than the younger Lola, but both took an unofficial visit to Kentucky at the same time on Thursday. Jaylah continues the theme of Coach Elzy going after bigger guards who can handle the ball and play multiple positions. Even though she’ll be starting high school this coming fall, Jaylah already possesses that ability. She plays up to U16 and currently holds offers from North Carolina, Louisville, Butler, Mississippi State, Michigan State, Michigan, and the ‘Cats, which she received at the end of April.

ZaKiyah Johnson: 5-foot-10 forward – Louisville, KY

If there is one name from this list everyone should lock into their brains, it would be ZaKiyah Johnson. She’s about to embark on her first season of high school basketball where she’ll suit up for Sacred Heart Academy up in Louisville. Both of her parents played basketball at Morehead State and she has been playing up in age ever since she was in seventh grade. Johnson just took an unofficial to Kentucky on Thursday after initially receiving her offer from the ‘Cats back in July of 2020.  She also holds offers from Louisville and Northern Kentucky with interest already coming from the powerhouse program of South Carolina.

Remember her name. She’ll be a big-time prospect as she continues to develop on the floor and someone Kentucky will likely go after with vigor.

Class of 2026

Lola Lampley: 6-foot-2 forward – Indianapolis, IN

The second of the Lampley sisters, Lola, joined Jaylah on their unofficial visit to Kentucky on Thursday. Most schools appear to be offering them as a package deal as North Carolina, Michigan, Mississippi State, Michigan State, Louisville, Butler, and UK all offered the two at the same time. Lola does hold additional offers from the likes of Ohio State and Pittsburgh, as well. At 6-foot-2 and not even in eighth grade yet, she’s another recruit who can capably put the ball on the floor while playing three or four different positions.

Ariyana Cradle: 5-foot-6 point guard – Ohio

The lone recruit on this list that we don’t know much about is Ariyana Cradle, who is a rising eighth-grader from Ohio. Her offer from Kentucky came on June 3, her third already as the ‘Cats join Oklahoma and Pittsburgh as the other two to reach out with a scholarship.

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2024-04-26