Ajae Petty Could be the Player to Watch for Kentucky WBB

Kentucky Women’s Basketball could be looking to Ajae Petty for points in the paint this season.

The now senior came to Kentucky for the 2022-23 season as a transfer from LSU. Petty was a quiet player there, not quite showing her true potential. Coming to UK, Petty was given a fresh start to showcase her talent. The 6-foot-4 forward could be a crucial piece to head coach Kyra Elzy’s puzzle in the upcoming season.

Petty’s Life at LSU

Petty attended Louisiana State University from 2020-22, playing in only 31 games across two seasons with a career-best of 12 points her sophomore year. At LSU, Petty wasn’t impressive. As a freshman, the Maryland native appeared in 19 games. She averaged less than one point and rebound per game for the entire season.

Although Petty played in only 12 games her sophomore season, her skills became much more consistent. She averaged 2.4 points and 2.4 rebounds per game, shooting 9 for 16 on field goal attempts throughout the year. There’s not much more to say about Petty’s career at LSU. Overall, the sophomore forward was lackluster and was in desperate need of some kind of change in her athletic career.

She found that in Lexington.

A Fresh Start for the Forward

Petty transferred to Kentucky after her sophomore season as a part of a package deal with her hometown Baltimore friend, Eniya Russell (South Carolina). She began to prove herself as a strong post player who could put points on the boards deep in the paint. Although she didn’t find a starting spot last season, Petty played in 29 total games with season-highs of 16 points and 12 rebounds.

On the defensive end, Petty’s height and strength were integral to any success the Wildcats saw last season.

“Her size, athleticism and physicality are something we needed to add to the roster,” said head coach Kyra Elzy in a press release regarding Petty’s transfer.

As a junior, Petty earned her first of two double-doubles during the season, including double-digit points in six straight games. In Kentucky’s midseason win against Minnesota, Petty put up a season-high 16 points. Although most games were single-digit pointers, Petty became much more consistent with her numbers, scoring an average of 5.7 points per game on the season.

What to Expect from Petty This Season

The ‘Cats just finished their summer practice session and named Ajae Petty “Most Valuable Player.” With the first open practice set for Sept. 26, Petty could be a focal point in the Wildcats’ lineup partnering alongside fellow senior Maddie Scherr.

Big congrats to @AjaePetty15 for winning the MVP Award at the end of the summer session! 💪🔥 pic.twitter.com/1H7n4PHYb4

— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) September 22, 2023

Kentucky is in need of a strong post player after the disappointment this past season, so Petty will need to step up and earn her team some much-needed momentum for the upcoming year.

Being named team MVP before the regular season even starts shows promise for an improvement in the now senior’s stats. Although Petty has one more year of eligibility left after this season, she will still need to prove to the program that she deserves a starting spot going into next year. Fans should expect to hear Ajae Petty’s name frequently in the coming months.