Which players should Kenny Brooks try to bring to Kentucky from Virginia Tech?

Now that former Virginia Tech women’s basketball coach Kenny Brooks has been named head coach at the University of Kentucky, it’s time to start thinking about potential Hokies that Brooks can bring to UK.

As it stands, there are 12 players on Virginia Tech’s roster, with only nine available to return to the Hokies. None of those players have entered the transfer portal, and one of them is actually Brooks’ daughter, Gabby, a freshman.

Out of those nine players, there are many that I think Kentucky would benefit by getting through the portal.

The current roster of Wildcats includes Saniah Tyler, Amiya Jenkins, Cassidy Rowe, Brooklynn Miles, and Jordy Griggs. However, there are plenty of ‘Cats in the portal who have the potential to return, as well.

Seniors Maddie Scherr, Ajae Petty, and Eniya Russell all three entered the portal, but have one year of eligibility remaining. It’s worth noting that Eniya Russell did participate in Senior Day at Rupp Arena, so her return might be slightly less likely. Petty and Scherr, on the other hand, did not participate in Senior Day, and have confirmed they’ll be playing another year of college basketball. Freshman Janae Walker also entered the portal and could make a return, but might be better off somewhere else.

With only five confirmed players on Kentucky’s roster for the 2024-25 season (plus two incoming high school commits), Brooks will need to bring in a powerhouse of players through the high school or portal ranks — especially for a chance to compete in the SEC. Unfortunately, Virginia Tech’s 6-foot-6 Elizabeth Kitley has no eligibility left, or else she’d be my first pick for the Wildcats. Nonetheless, there are still plenty of Hokies that I’d like to see in Lexington.

Georgia Amoore

The Australian-born, and current senior guard, Georgia Amoore averaged 18.8 points per game in the 2023-24 season. With one year of eligibility left, it’s likely that Amoore will return to college basketball for a last hurrah. However, there is a chance that the senior would want to declare for the WNBA draft. Amoore has spent all four of her college seasons with Virginia Tech and Kenny Brooks, so it seems more likely than not that Amoore might want to stick with her coach. The guard scored a career-high 39 points on 13-26 (50%) from the field on March 3, against Virginia. This season, Amoore shot 33.5% from beyond the arc and scored a total of 602 points in 32 games.

The only downside, however, is that the senior is only 5-foot-6, and could have some trouble against SEC size. However, Amoore had no trouble being one of the best players in the ACC, given that she was named the MVP of the 2023 ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament. Amoore is also the only Virginia Tech player to have ever achieved a triple-double, completed with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Amoore has also proven her basketball IQ, as she held the record for the most assists in the ACC this past season. The guard would enter Kentucky as a graduate transfer for one more year of college basketball.

Clara Strack

The 6-foot-5 freshman would definitely bring some much-needed size to Lexington. The center played in 33 games for the Hokies, coming off the bench in all but two of them. While Strack only averaged 4.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, she does boast a career-high of 19 points against Houston Christian back in November. On the year, the freshman shot 62-110 (56.4%) from the field and grabbed 134 rebounds. Despite her age, Strack has a lot to show for her career so far. If she chose Virginia Tech because she likes Kenny Brooks, well, we may see her make the switch to Kentucky.

Matilda Ekh

The current junior boasts a 10.4 points per game average, along with a career-high 25 points against Rutgers in December. The 6-foot guard shot 43.9% from the field on 118-269 and 78-193 (40.4%) from beyond the arc. Ekh also averages 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. She played her first two seasons at Michigan State, where she started in 57 of 59 career games. After transferring to Virginia Tech for her junior season, Ekh played and started in 33 games.

Rose Micheaux

Another current junior, the 6-foot-2 forward averaged 4.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Micheaux played in 23 games this season for the Hokies and spent her first two seasons at Minnesota. As a Golden Gopher, the forward averaged 9.3 points per game on 55% from the field. She added 5.9 rebounds per game. While the transfer to Virginia Tech didn’t help Micheaux’s production, a transfer to Kentucky could. As we all know, Kentucky needs more size, and that’s exactly what Micheaux brings to the table.

The Freshmen

Other than Strack, there are five other current freshmen who have the potential to make the move to Kentucky. Including walk-on Gabby Brooks (daughter of Kenny Brooks), any of the five freshmen could very likely make it to Lexington.

Carys Baker, who played in 33 games for the Hokies, and Samyha Suffren, who played in 15 games, are the only other freshmen with anything to show for their rookie season. The other three, Brooks, Mackenzie Nelson, and Carleigh Wenzel, didn’t make their debuts on the court.

Baker, the 6-foot-2 forward, averaged 3.4 points and 1.4 rebounds per game. The freshman scored a career-high 18 points in December against LIU, including four three-pointers. Despite being a forward, Baker has versatility to move between the three and the four positions, much like Kentucky’s graduating veteran Emma King. This time around, however, Baker has the size and the skills to make the jump.

Suffren played a total of 104 minutes for the Hokies across her 15 games and averaged 1.5 points and 0.9 rebounds per game. The freshman guard scored a career-high nine points against Duke in January, as well as a career-high two steals. Despite the lack of minutes, Suffren has made do with what she had and has the potential to make an offensive transformation in the offseason.

The Recruits

For the 2024-25 season, Kenny Brooks and Co. planned on bringing in three new recruits: Lexi Blue, Myah Hazelton, and Clara Silva. Current redshirt freshman Mackenzie Nelson will also be joining the group of new additions. The recruit class is currently ranked No. 8 in the nation, according to ESPN. Blue, who is the No. 38 senior in the nation, isn’t the only reason the class is ranked so high.

Portugal native, 6-foot-6 Silva could bring some much-needed size to Kentucky, just like veteran Clara Strack. Myah Hazelton, the Baltimore native, might have more incentive to make the move if Ajae Petty or Eniya Russell (both Baltimore natives) also return. Standing at 6-foot-4, the forward would make a great addition to the Wildcats nonetheless.

While it might be a few days before we know exactly what’s happening with the future of the roster, it’s clear that there’s going to be some motion in the transfer portal. If Kenny Brooks is going to do what needs to happen at Kentucky, he’s going to have to do some work. Even though Brooks probably can’t bring ALL of the current Virginia Tech roster, there are some players to keep an eye on in the transfer portal.

The portal changes every day, and one thing is for sure, college basketball moves fast.