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PREVIEW: Kentucky WBB targets will square off in Nike EYBL/Run 4 Roses event in Louisville

Screenshot 2023-11-10 at 1.25.30 PMby: Phoenix Stevens07/10/25PStevensKSR
preview-kentucky-targets-square-off-nike-eybl-run-4-roses-event-louisville (1)
Photo of Nike Girls EYBL Session 3/Run 4 Roses entrance by KSR

Last year, KSR watched and talked to Kaelyn Carroll and Maddyn Greenway at Nike EYBL Session 3, also known as the Run 4 Roses event at the Louisville Exposition Center. At the time, they were just targets on Kenny Brooks‘ radar. Now, they’re Cats (or soon-to-be Cat in Greenway’s case). We’ll be doing the same again this year from July 11-13.

There are a number of high-profile Kentucky targets set to compete in the event. Before KSR arrives on the scene, here’s a preview of the event and who we’ll be keeping an eye on.

No Maddyn Greenway and no Savvy Swords

First things first, unfortunately, we won’t be able to get a look at Maddyn Greenway, and by the looks of it, we probably won’t get to see Savvy Swords either. Instead of suiting up for North Tartan, Greenway will be competing with the USA Basketball U19 team in Czechia from July 12-20.

As for Swords, it doesn’t appear that she’s participating in summer ball this year. Though she still has Kia Nurse Elite — the only Canadian-based Nike EYBL club — on her Twitter/X bio, she is not listed on any of the official Kia Nurse Elite rosters, and she hasn’t logged any stats in previous sessions. So, we’re assuming that her Twitter/X bio is simply outdated.

Class of 2026 Kentucky targets

5-star post Olivia Vukosa – No. 3 overall, No. 1 post – Philly Rise

Olivia Vukosa is certainly one of the highest priorities on the recruiting trail for Kentucky, if not the highest. The Cats made her top 7 back in March, which also consists of South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio State, LSU, Texas and UConn. The Huskies specifically are a massive threat in this recruitment, but Kentucky is right in there in contention for Vuksoa’s talents. Her 8.1 rebounds per game are tied for second on the Nike EYBL 17U circuit.

4-star forward Mimi Thiero – No. 35 overall, No. 9 forward – 2026 SLAAM Woodson

Adou’s not-so-little sister will be competing in the Run 4 Roses event as well. After being offered by Brooks and the staff back in May, she’s officially on Kentucky’s radar. She took an unofficial visit to Kentucky back in the 2023-24 season when Kyra Elzy still coached the team (and when her brother was a Wildcat still). Her recruitment has gained some serious steam in the last several months, with schools like NC State, North Carolina, Ohio State and Mississippi State getting in on her recruitment.

4-star guard Whitley Rogers – No. 41 overall, No. 15 guard – Tennessee Flight

Whitley Rogers, the 2025 Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year, was offered by Kentucky in late May, and it’s clear why. She’s been tearing it up on the Nike EYBL circuit. Her 18.6 points per game rank fourth overall on the 17U circuit. She holds offers from programs like Houston, Colorado, Arizona State, West Virginia and several others. Rogers also averaged 24.9 points, 6.9 rebound, 3.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game for Little Rock Christian Academy this past high school season.

Class of 2027 Kentucky targets

5-star wing Jordyn Palmer – No. 6 overall, No. 1 wing – Philly Rise

Jordyn Palmer is Vukosa’s teammate, making up for one of the more dangerous tandems in all of AAU. Kentucky’s recruitment with Palmer goes back to August of last year when they offered her. She holds offers from the likes of Louisville, South Carolina, Notre Dame, LSU and UCLA, among others. Palmer, like Vukosa, has been dominating on the glass this summer. Her 6.7 rebounds per game rank fifth in the 17U circuit.

5-star guard Sydney Savoury – No. 15 overall, No. 4 guard – Michigan Crossover

Sydney Savoury was offered by Kentucky last July, and she has sky-rocketed since then. At the time, she was just a three-star recruit. Now, she’s a five-star, and she’s also been the most prolific scorer on the Nike EYBL circuit, averaging 25.6 points per game. Her 2.4 steals per game are tied for fourth on the 17U circuit. Ole Miss, UCLA, Louisville and Minnesota are some of the other schools to offer Savoury. Additionally, she has taken visits to UCLA, Duke and Michigan.

4-star point guard De’Andra Minor – No. 21 overall, No. 3 point guard – Pro Skills

Like Palmer and Savoury, De’Andra Minor has been on Kentucky’s radar since last summer. Minor holds offers from schools like Oklahoma, Clemson and Tennessee, among others. The Sooners, being the home-state team especially, are perhaps the biggest threat in this recruitment. However, the Kentucky staff got in on her early, so maybe that’ll pay off in the end. Plus, there aren’t many other coaches and schools with a stronger appeal to point guards than Kenny Brooks and Kentucky.

Class of 2028 Kentucky targets

4-star guard Erin Thomas – No. 22 overall, No. 11 guard – Sports City Angels

Of everyone listed thus far, Kentucky’s recruitment with Erin Thomas is the one most in its infancy, which makes sense considering she’s the youngest prospect here. Brooks and the staff offered Thomas in late June, and schools like Louisville, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Cal and TCU are keeping their eye on her too. This recruitment has a long way to go, but it should be an interesting one nonetheless.

In-state prospects we’ll be looking at…

  • 2026 guard Jaidan Koch (Calloway County) – Kentucky Premier 17U
  • 2026 guard Sayler Lowe (Calloway County) – Kentucky Premier 17U
  • 2026 forward Madison Young (South Oldham) – Kentucky Premier 17U
  • 2026 guard Jaelyn Jones (Ryle) – Kentucky Premier 17U
  • 2027 guard Brynn Brickley (South Oldham) – Lexington Crossover La Familia 16U
  • 2028 guard Ella Buckman (Bardstown) – Kentucky Premier 15U

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)

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2025-08-02