Top 40 recruit Emily McDonald officially signs with Kentucky

Kentucky has officially signed its first recruit of the early signing period — 2026 four-star guard Emily McDonald.

She is high school teammates with fellow Kentucky commit, Savvy Swords (who is also expected to sign during the early signing period), at Long Island Lutheran (NY). McDonald is the No. 36 player in the 2026 class in the Rivals Industry Rankings and the No. 7 combo guard in the class.

McDonald originally committed to Kentucky over South Carolina, TCU, Maryland and Michigan State, North Carolina and Virginia Tech, among others, though sources indicated KSR during her recruitment that it really ended up being a two-horse race between the Cats and Gamecocks.

“Thank you to everyone who has guided me throughout this process!” McDonald wrote on social media when she committed. “Thank you to the entire staff at Kentucky for giving me this opportunity!! Excited to get to Lexington and get to work!! #BBN”

She went on visits over the summer to the likes of Michigan, Baylor and TCU as well as Kentucky before ultimately choosing to be a Wildcat.

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)