There's a lot happening in the hoops world as the basketball season gets closer. The Big Blue Madness is only a week away from today, and both the men's and women's programs will be featured (which, if you don't have tickets for it, it's too late; it sold out in 24 minutes online). There are a few things of note specifically for the women's program that you should know about.
The first is that the home opener tip-time against USC Upstate for women's hoops was set today at 5 pm EST. This is the very first game of the season, and it will take place at the Historic Memorial Coliseum.
Our home opener tip time is set.
— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) October 3, 2024
Don't miss this special day, Big Blue Nation. pic.twitter.com/qlMa7ZkBUj
Head Coach Kenny Brooks, like his counterpart in the men's program, Mark Pope, has reloaded and relaunched this team in record time. He was hired in the offseason, and yet they are already finding themselves in the early preseason prediction rankings. Charlie Creme of ESPN.com came out with his "Way Too Early Top 25" for women's basketball and has Kentucky at #23. He said this about the team, "A manageable November and December schedule will allow Brooks to build chemistry before the rigors of the SEC begin on Jan. 2."
Hello, 23. 👋📈 pic.twitter.com/o47qKfuAfR
— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) September 26, 2024
As far as recruiting goes, there are a few updates to report, though nothing is new on 5-star ZaKiyah Johnson, who visited Kentucky recently. She is going to visit Louisville, and then we should know more at the end of the month. Kaelyn Carroll and Agot Makeer are both getting closer to making their decision, but nothing is overly imminent. According to 24/7 Sports, Makeer is the fourth-best player in the 2025 class, and Carroll is the 32nd.
Agot Makeer is currently down to her final six schools. She spoke with @247Sports on her remaining visits, her process, and a timeline.
— Dushawn London (@DushawnLondon1) October 1, 2024
"I'm looking to make a decision by the first or second week of November.”
Finalists: Duke, South Carolina, UConn, Kentucky, Michigan State… pic.twitter.com/uLU8lihEiD
Four-star forward Kaelyn Carroll is aiming to make her college decision before the early November signing period.
— Dushawn London (@DushawnLondon1) October 2, 2024
She has already taken visits to Villanova, Kentucky and Minnesota with more visits lined up this month.
Story: https://t.co/WqYO2zCtED pic.twitter.com/qlwYbg0QOJ
Coach Brooks currently has zero commitments for next year's class but many of the top players he and his staff are recruiting have not yet committed or finished their visits. Therefore, no alarm should sound yet, especially as he has been known to pull in pretty good recruits from both the high schools and transfers when the portal opens.