Coach Kenny Brooks has added another international player to his roster. (UK Athletics Photo)
Kentucky needed more size on its 2025-26 roster and found that when 6-foot-5 Elsa Vadfors announced she had committed to play for coach Kenny Brooks.
“I’m so happy to announce that I’ve committed to the University of Kentucky! Thank you to Coach Brooks and the entire Kentucky coaching staff for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. Go Wildcats!” Vadfors posted on social media.
Kentucky returns 6-5 junior Clara Strack, the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year last season when she led the league in blocked shots. However, last year’s backup, Clara Silva of Portugal, transferred after one season with the Cats.
Vadfors, 19, plays for Uppsala Basket, a Swedish-based basketball club, and averaged 2.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in 48 career games. She also played on Sweden’s 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s EuroBasket team and averaged 1.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game as Sweden finished 2-5 in the FIBA under 18 EuroBasket Division 1B.
Vadfors obviously will be a “project” with her limited numbers in international play but Brooks has had terrific success with international players.
One Response
Rooks needs to make first a private & then a public apology for running off a True-Blue WildCat at the end of last season!
With the stats this player has put up, it is a project & may turn out OK. However, if he gives a scholarship to anyone with these stats, regardless of size, then it is more than ridiculous to have run off a wonderful WildCat who was 100% UK.
The AD needs to sign up coaches from all sports to a program about UK players who grew up in Kentucky, so they can understand the value of such players. Of course, the HK AD needs a seminar in a lot of areas including “not wasting millions on ridiculous contracts.”