Tonie Morgan will be her Own Player at UK

Georgia Tech transfer Tonie Morgan knew UK coach Kenny Brooks would help develop her overall game. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Tonie Morgan was a three-time all-Atlantic Coast Conference player at Georgia Tech who started 95 games and is regarded as a potential top 10 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft.

However, after transferring to Kentucky to play for coach Kenny Brooks and follow All-American Georgia Amoore as UK’s point guard, she was still a relative unknown when the Cats opened the season.

“I’m my own player. If they (UK fans) were expecting Georgia, they’re going to be surprised because I’m a different player, but I think they will enjoy the new player that’s coming,” the 5-foot-9 point guard said. “I would describe myself as a playmaker. Make plays happen on both ends of the court.”

Morgan knows Brooks is a “point guard guru” and knows she has “amazing” teammates.

“They have plenty of length. They can shoot it. They can attack the basket. There’s nothing that they can’t do. Just knowing that I can trust them and they can trust me is definitely something that I’m excited to experience this season,” Morgan said. “Coach Brooks was a point guard himself when he played. He’s put out great point guards. I’ve seen his resume, he’s seen mine, and we thought we could work together.

“I did my research and I knew that he could help me develop my game. I saw what he did with Georgia and other guards. He’s very versatile. He can work with any position but he’s great with guards.”

Not every player would want to follow Amoore, who led Brooks and Virginia Tech to a Final Four before following him to Kentucky and leading UK to a fourth-place SEC finish last season. Morgan has 49 assists in five games and is also averaging 9.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. She’s  hitting 42.2 percent from the field but has only made one 3-pointer in nine tries.

“I wanted to come and play for coach Brooks, because I wanted to win, and he believed in me as a player. I wouldn’t say I am following Georgia. I would just say I’m next in line,” Morgan said. “I believe in myself, my teammates believe in me, and my coaching staff believes in me, so I just got to make it happen.”

Morgan considers herself an introvert but is learning to get outside her comfort zone.

“You can’t be introverted as a point guard. Your job is to be the coach on the floor. I have to help direct everybody and help them know what they are supposed to do and that means sometimes I have to get outside my comfort zone and be more outgoing to help us all chase our dreams and goals.”

Morgan said UK has a “fun group to be around” off the court and incredible size on the court..

“We’re a long team. I don’t think I’m super short, but I’m the shortest on the roster. We can get up in people because we got shot blockers back there,” Morgan said. “It’s exciting to play with them. I will run the offense the way coach Brooks wants me to run it but it’s great knowing there are post players I can get the ball to.

“I just have to develop my connection with coach Brooks. I haven’t been with him before but we have a good relationship and it will only get better.”

Morgan believes the relationship with Brooks along with the overall talent on the team could make Kentucky a national title contender.

“Come out and watch us play. We are going to be exciting to watch,” Morgan said. “Could we win a championship? Absolutely. That’s our goal.”