Adebola Adeyeye catching Kyra Elzy's eye in summer practices

Kentucky Women’s Basketball is a blank slate heading into the 2022-23 season. Two-thirds of the team has never worn a UK jersey, only two returners were consistent starters, and the ‘Cats lost legendary assistant coach Gail Goestenkors along with arguably the program’s all-time greatest player in Rhyne Howard to the WNBA.

Everybody is wondering who will step up for the ‘Cats; everybody except head coach Kyra Elzy.

Rising to the top

During the team’s Media Day press conference on Wednesday, the 44-year-old head coach fielded countless questions regarding the team’s upcoming season. When Elzy was asked who had stood out to her in summer practices, one name rose to the surface.

“One name that stands out, and you all will love her, is Ade,” Elzy said.

Ade, or Adebola Adeyeye, is a 6-foot-2 graduate student from Buffalo. In her senior season with the Bulls, Adeyeye averaged 6.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. With 116 collegiate games under her belt, her veteran experience is priceless.

Adebola Adeyeye is a natural-born leader

Nonetheless, Adeyeye brings more than simple wisdom. Elzy went into detail on the Kentucky forward’s exceptional traits.

“Her competitive spirit, her ability to play with an intensity on both sides of the ball — she talks non-stop,” Elzy said. “She brings a leadership to us. She’s not afraid to say the tough things.”

Kentucky will need Adeyeye’s voice to be heard on the court as the team welcomes six young freshmen. She’s certainly setting an example in practice. This year, Kentucky implemented a point system in practice to create a more competitive environment.

For each achievement on the court, a player will get weekly points. Whoever has the most points at the end of the week doesn’t have to run sprints. Adeyeye’s competitive spirit is shining through in these competitions.

“I see her at the training table yesterday and she said, ‘Coach, I’m going to go back and watch practice. I think they missed my rebounds at the table. I should have won some of those,'” Elzy recalled.

If Adeyeye is this concentrated on a few points in practice, she’ll be a force to be reckoned with during the season. Get your first glimpse of Adeyeye on Oct. 14 at Big Blue Madness.