'I'm planning to go in September.' 2026 four-star Mimi Thiero eyeing visit to Kentucky WBB

Mimi Thiero, a four-star forward in the 2026 class (and Adou’s sister as we’ve noted before), has her sights on a visit to Kentucky, who offered her back May. She took an unofficial visit to Kentucky back during the 2024-24 season when Kyra Elzy was still the coach, but now, she wants to get a look at the program under Kenny Brooks.

Her recruitment has been one of the more interesting ones to track in the 2026 class. Her height and athleticism have rapidly grown, and so has the amount of big-time schools that are interested in her. She went from getting purely mid-major offers to now being offered by programs like Maryland, NC State, North Carolina, Pitt, Clemson, Miami and several others.

“I wasn’t really expecting it,” Thiero told KSR regarding the shift in her recruitment. “Now, I gotta come out every game and do what I do. Coaches like that, and that’s great for me. I’m hearing from a lot of coaches about their programs, and the offers are amazing. It gives me more desire to work harder.”

With Thiero specifically, there’s some extra intrigue with her being a Wildcat because once upon a time, her brother was one too. However, he left the program and followed John Calipari to Arkansas. KSR asked Thiero about how that could possibly affect her decision, but (thankfully?), it doesn’t seem like that will really impact anything.

“I’m definitely considering doing my own thing,” Thiero noted. “Kenny Brooks has been doing a great job at Kentucky. They’re a great program, so I’m definitely not taking them off my list just for my brother.”

So, when exactly can we expect to see Thiero in Lexington? According to her, September. “I’m planning to go in September,” she said. Additionally, the 6-foot-4 forward told KSR that she is “planning on signing in November, making a decision before my school season starts”. That would allow her to sign with a program during the early signing period.

Hopefully, that program of choice ends up being Kentucky.

Rundown of prospects offered by Kentucky

2026

• 5-star post Olivia Vukosa – No. 3 overall, No. 1 post – Christ the King (NY)
• 5-star point guard Kate Harpring – No. 4 overall, No. 1 point guard – Marist (GA)
• 5-star guard Trinity Jones – No. 7 overall, No. 3 guard – Bolingbrook (IL)
• 5-star point guard Maddyn Greenway – No. 11 overall, No. 2 point guard – Providence Academy (MN) – Committed to Kentucky
• 5-star guard Bella Flemings – No. 12 overall, No. 6 guard – Brennan (TX)
• 5-star wing Savvy Swords – No. 18 overall, No. 4 wing – Long Island Lutheran (NY) – Committed to Kentucky
• 4-star forward Amari Byles – No. 22 overall, No. 4 forward – DeSoto (TX)
• 4-star guard Sanai Green – No. 23 overall, No. 9 guard – Long Island Lutheran (NY) – Committed to Duke
• 4-star forward Kamora Pruitt – No. 24 overall, No. 5 forward – Legion Prep Academy (TX)
• 4-star wing Bella Ragone – No. 28 overall, No. 7 wing – Mill Creek (GA) – Committed to Notre Dame
• 4-star forward Mimi Thiero – No. 35 overall, No. 9 forward – Quaker Valley (PA)
• 4-star guard Emily McDonald – No. 39 overall, No. 13 guard – Long Island Lutheran (NY)
• 4-star guard Whitley Rogers – No. 41 overall, No. 15 guard – Little Rock Christian Academy (AR)

2027

• 5-star guard Ivanna Wilson Manyacka – No. 2 overall, No. 1 guard – Bullis (MD)
• 5-star wing Jordyn Palmer – No. 6 overall, No. 1 wing – Westtown (PA)
• 5-star guard Sydney Savoury – No. 15 overall, No. 4 guard – Belleville (MI)
• 4-star point guard De’Andra Minor – No. 21 overall, No. 3 point guard – Grind Prep Academy (OK)
• 4-star forward Sydney Mobley – No. 22 overall, No. 6 forward – Big Walnut (OH)
• 4-star guard Madeline Mignery – No. 33 overall, No. 11 guard – Cardinal Mooney (FL)
• Forward Isabella Marion – Unranked (international) – Denmark

2028

• 4-star forward Sydney Douglas – No. 2 overall, No. 1 forward – Etiwanda (CA)
• 4-star point guard Chloe Johnson – No. 3 overall, No. 1 point guard – Marshall (MN)
• 4-star wing Ella Peper – No. 4 overall, No. 1 wing – Dexter Southfield (MA)
• 4-star guard Jhaliana Guy – No. 19 overall, No. 10 guard – Bettendorf (IA) – Committed to Stanford
• 4-star guard Erin Thomas – No. 22 overall, No. 11 guard – Princeton (OH)

2029

• Center Jayden McClain – Unranked (no rankings for 2029 yet) – Ryle (KY)
• Wing Carib Morris – Unranked (no rankings for 2029 yet) – Cresset Christian Academy (NC)

(via ESPN’s SportsCenter NEXT Rankings)