UK Athletics Photo
Elsa Vadfors, a 6-foot-5 center from Sweden, recently signed with the University of Kentucky. Vadfors, 19, played for Uppsala Basket, a Swedish club team, where she averaged 1.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 18 games this season. She’s also played for Sweden’s 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket team and averaged 1.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.
Dan Bowmaker has a website — bluestareurope.com — aimed at “helping Europe’s female basketball players find a school in the USA” and has seen Vadfors plays.
“She is a mobile post player who has very good lateral speed for her size with good shot blocking instincts,” Bowmaker, who covered a tournament in Spain last week, said. “Her offensive game continues to develop.
“She came to the game quite late so I think she and the coaching staff will expect her to make significant progress during her time at Kentucky.”
Blue Star Europe, Dan Bowmaker, is helping Europe’s female basketball players find a school in the USA (bluestareurope.com, on X at @bluestareurope).
Freshman center Clara Silva had some issues with the physical Southeastern Conference play last season. Bowmaker, who is on X at @bluestareurope, knows “any player has to adapt to the jump in physicality from high school to college athletics” whether it is the SEC or any other conference in college basketball.
“Late in her (recruiting) process Elsa was able to chose between options in the SEC and Big 12,” he said. “I was not surprised she chose Kentucky. As I am sure you know, the staff does a great job recruiting.
“My role as a basketball scout is to evaluate talent and provide that info to my subscribers, and that’s easier than the coaches. They have to balance their roster, develop the team and individual players over time to bring success to the program, so Elsa is clearly part of that plan (at Kentucky). I guess time will tell how big a part she gets to play.”
2 Responses
We traded a All American for this product? Silva is going to be a all American before its all said and done! I can’t believe we lost her. Brooks should have played her more than he did.
We traded nothing. From reports I read Silva was unhappy with Brooks style of coaching plus what was mentioned in the article. She did not like the physicality. She left on her own. I wish her luck and welcome Elsa.