Jordan Obi, left, and Dominika Paurova missed last season with injuries but are healthy and ready to be major contributors for Kentucky this season. (UK Athletics Photo)
Kentucky coach Kenny Brooks was counting on Jordan Obi and Dominika Paurova to play key roles on his first UK team last season but both missed the entire year after suffering off-season injuries. Now Brooks is counting on the duo even more going into his second season at UK.
Obi transferred to UK from Penn where she averaged 13.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in 83 games. Paurova played one season at Oregon State where she averaged 5.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 35 games for a team that reached the Elite Eight in 2024.
Senior forward Teonni Key, one of three returning starters, says both players will make a huge impact now that they are healthy.
“They are both insane players and will add so much. Jordan is really strong, really versatile. She can play inside or out,” Key said. “Dom’s an insane shooter, really good. She can even start the offense.
“They both just bring so much. It really adds to our offense because we didn’t have that kind of strength last year.”
Obi said the duo did not do a lot last year other than rehabbing, watching practice and trying to stay in shape the best they could.
“I like to golf. I picked up golfing a little bit. Picked up deejaying a little bit. I would say I was better at deejaying but I am still working on my golf game. I got power behind my swing but not so much on the direction of where the ball is going.”
Paurova said “watching and learning” for a season was good for her and will make her a better player this season.
“I think it gave me another angle about the game watching from the side, and I think it’s an advantage that I can use,” the Oregon State transfer said. “All the people here made it so much easier for me. Teammates, staff, coaches, they just helped me so much last year and that is going to pay off this year for me and the team.”
