UK Adds Another Top Recruit in Emily McDonald

Emily McDonald, second from left, is UK's third high profile recruiting commitment. (UK Athletics Photo)

Kentucky already had two top 10, five-star commits in point guard Maddyn Greenway and wing Savvy Swords but coach Kenny Brooks added another big-time commitment Wednesday from Emily McDonald.

McDonald is a 6-foot combo guard out of Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) and teammate of Swords. She is a top 25 player nationally who also had offers from South Carolina, UCLA, TCU, Maryland, Michigan State, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Michigan, Baylor, TCU and others.

McDonald took an unofficial visit to Kentucky in March and had an official visit in September.

“Thank you to everyone who has guided me throughout this process!” McDonald posted on social media. “Thank you to the entire staff at Kentucky for giving me this opportunity!! Excited to get to Lexington and get to work!! #BBN”

McDonald had a productive summer schedule that raised her recruiting rankings but hopes to raise her game even more at UK.

“I chose Kentucky because there aren’t many coaches that develop their players like coach Brooks,” McDonald told ESPN. “I feel their style of play matches how I play perfectly. Overall, it felt like home on my official visit.”

McDonald seems like the perfect fit with Greenway and Swords. McDonald is a big-time shooter who can find shot opportunities but can also create her own shot. Greenway is a distributor at point guard but also a capable scorer and shooter who picked UK over Iowa, Duke, Clemson, UCLA and Stanford. Swords is a forward with perimeter skills but also likes physical play on the inside. She picked UK over South Carolina, UCLA, Michigan and Notre Dame.

Brooks added 6-foot-3 McDonald’s All-American Kaelyn Carroll, another five-star player, along with 6-foot-5 Swede Elsa Vadfors to this year’s team.