Georgia Amoore with her parents.
Today not staying close to home is not as hard for a college athlete thanks to cell phones, e-mails and live streaming/television coverage of so many events.
However, coming from Australia to the United States is a bit more of a journey and does still present distance complications for the athlete and his or her parents.
Kentucky point guard Georgia Amoore left Australia in January, 2020, and her parents told her they would see her in May when she came home from summer break. That did not exactly work out the way it was planned.
“COVID hit and she didn’t come home. She didn’t want to come home as she wasn’t sure if she would be able to get back into the USA and she was committed to Virginia Tech and coach (Kenny) Books and wanted to stay,” said Kelly Amoore.
“Thank God for the Kitley’s as they gave her a home when the school shut down and looked after her like their own daughter. Coach Brooks also gave his word he would look after her like his own daughter. Georgia actually got COVID in March but those times helped shape Georgia into who she is now.”
Elizabeth Kitley was Virginia Tech’s star player who combined with Amoore to help Tech reach the 2023 Final Four. Kelly Amoore said the player and her family were lifesavers for her daughter.
“We often don’t talk about it as it’s so upsetting but no doubt for her and us as a family it was some of the toughest moments in our lives. Especially for Georgia, another world away and then getting COVID and no immediate family around,” the UK guard’s mother said. “She definitely went through some dark moments. So we didn’t get to see her till Christmas 2021 — nearly two years. I’ve been over three times in total and my husband twice now.
“Recently we have worked out away to watch her live but because we both work and the games are normally on in the mornings, we listen to the game. Then we rely on Georgia to send through the games, which is her biggest downfall … enough said.”
When Brooks left for Kentucky, it did not surprise her that her daughter almost immediately decided to transfer and play her fifth collegiate season at UK for him. Kelly Amoore is a thoroughbred horse trainer — she grew up working in her father’s racing stables — and knows Lexington’s reputation as horse country.
“I would love to stay there and work there with the horses. I was so excited when I knew that Georgia was going to Kentucky because of the horses. I’m a qualified horse trainer but I have not really committed myself to it 100 percent,” Kelly Amoore said.
“Being older and wiser, I know training horses doesn’t allow you many days off. So in order to visit our girls (Jemma has committed to Sacramento State ) I work for a horse trainer who allows me three weeks off to go and visit them.”
She does have one bucket list item that perhaps someone in the Big Blue Nation will note and maybe find a way to help.
“I’m not going to lie, I’m desperate to attend the Kentucky Derby, that’s for sure,” Kelly Amoore said.
