Teonni Key works out with assistant coach Josh Petersen. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Teonni Key was not embellishing at the Southeastern Conference Media Days when she said last year at Kentucky “helped boost my confidence” after playing her first two seasons at North Carolina.
“This year, leading the team and just pouring into everybody else, helps bring everybody together. I think that has been the biggest impact,” said Key.
She averaged only 2.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 9.9 minutes per game in her two seasons at North Carolina. The 6-foot-5 forward averaged 11.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.7 blocks (fifth in the SEC), 1.7 assists and 28.2 minutes per game last season at Kentucky. She had three straight double-doubles two times during the season and scored in double figures 22 times.
Brooks had known Key since she was 11 years old and recruited her sister, Tamari, who went to Tennessee, when he was coaching at Virginia Tech.
“Got to know her (Teonni) at a very early age. Obviously, unfortunate for her, she did get hurt at the University of North Carolina, lost some confidence. She was actually my first recruit when I got to the University of Kentucky,” Brooks said at SEC Media Days.
“We took her around, showed her everywhere on day one, which is kind of funny. We didn’t know what we were showing her. We were kind of making stuff up along the way.
“The next morning we were starting breakfast. I asked her if she had any questions. She said, ‘Yeah, I have a question about this, that.’ In the middle of it, she said, ‘By the way, I’m committing, I’m coming here.’ I thought dang, I’m at the University of Kentucky, recruiting is going to be easy.”
Brooks admitted he was “blown away” with her athletic ability, skill set and what she could do after she got to Kentucky
“From that point on, we just started working on her confidence,” the Kentucky coach said. “We watched her blossom throughout the year. She’ll admit she was a little bit up and down. But her potential was through the roof.
“We’ve kind of let her go a little bit this year where she can kind of explore some more, broaden her game a little bit. She’s done nothing but accepted that role and blossomed in it.”
Not only was All-American point guard Georgia Amoore UK’s marquee player last season, she was also the team’s leader. That’s a role Brooks wants Key to help fill this season.
“She’s our leader, enforcer, she’s the one that the girls look to. She really has that demeanor that people are willing to follow her,” Brooks said. “I’m excited for the year she’s about to have. I think she’s extremely underrated because she’s so versatile and can do so many things. I think she’s going to have a tremendous year for us this year.”
