Brooklyn DeLeye Has a Different Personality Off the Court

Brooklyn DeLeye, center, is all business on the court but teammates say she is "hilarious" off the court. (Vicky Graff Photo)

On the court, junior Brooklyn DeLeye is a terminator who often destroys opponents like she did when she had a career-high 30 kills in a NCAA Tournament second-round win over UCLA that helped propel Kentucky to an eventual regional championship and berth in the Final Four in Kansas City.

Kentucky will play Wisconsin Thursday night in the national semifinals and would face the Pitt-Texas A&M winner Sunday for the national title if it survives Wisconsin.

DeLeye has a team-high 521 kills this season along with 257 digs, 36 blocks and 22 service aces. However, off the court, her demeanor is far different.

“She’s a great person. You can tell that she really cares about you. She listens to you and she holds everyone to the same standard,” Kentucky freshman defensive specialist Trinity Ward said.  “She’s got a lot of respect for even the freshmen, which I feel like not a lot of programs have.

“She’s a lot of fun to be around. She’s actually one of the funniest people I’ve ever talked to. You would never know because it seems like she’s so serious in games. She’s always got a smile, but off the court, she is so hilarious.”

Junior middle blocker Lizzie Carr, a Purdue transfer, said Ward is exactly right about DeLeye.

“It’s really cool to see everyone come into their personality when we’re together as a team and all comfortable. It’s a really fun dynamic,” Carr said. “She’s a gamer. She’s gonna step on the court and she’s gonna lock in. She’s gonna do every single thing she can to win.

“She’s gonna embrace being on the floor and then let her personality take over when she’s off the court and she’s really, really funny.”