Kenny Brooks' potential 2024-25 starting lineup for Kentucky WBB

With an almost completely redone roster for the 2024-25 season, its certain that Kentucky Women’s Basketball has made a significant amount of changes. A new coach, 10 new players, and an almost entirely new staff are going to make for an interesting season.

At this point, we’re seeing the roster take shape in real-time. While rising juniors Cassidy Rowe and Saniah Tyler have stuck around for the blue and white, head coach Kenny Brooks has added a slew of players from the transfer portal.

So, with 11 players on the roster for the ‘Cats, what could Brooks’ starting five look like? While there are endless possibilities, I decided to dive deep into the stats and see what combination of players could be the most efficient.

Georgia Amoore – Point Guard

The easiest decision on this list was putting Amoore at point guard.

The All-American Virginia Tech transfer was the first of Kenny Brooks’ home run commitments this offseason. The 5-foot-6 Australia native was projected to be a first-round pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft but instead decided to follow Brooks to Kentucky and use her final year of college eligibility as a Wildcat.

Amoore hails as the all-time leader at Virginia Tech in assists (656) and second in three-pointers (330). During her senior season, the guard averaged 18.8 points and 6.8 assists per game. With Amoore leading the offense, Kentucky should have no problem competing with SEC powerhouses like South Carolina and LSU in the backcourt.

Dazia Lawrence – Shooting Guard

In the 2023-24 season, Dazia Lawrence, a 5-foot-8 transfer from Charlotte, recorded a whopping 18.2 points per game on 42.6% shooting from the field. Lawrence added 4.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, showing that she not only knows how to move the ball, but she also knows how to find it.

It’s likely that Lawrence is the best shooter on the roster at this point, making her the obvious choice for the 2-spot. Despite being undersized, Lawrence is quick and agile, which will definitely come in handy for the ‘Cats.

Jordan Obi – Small Forward

Jordan Obi, who spent three seasons at Penn, was selected to the All-Ivy team in not one, not two, but all three seasons. The 6-foot-1 forward averaged 13.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game across her three years at Penn. Last season, Obi added 2.0 assists and 1.0 block per game, as well as 0.9 steals.

Obi’s versatility taught her how to shoot from the perimeter and from the paint, making her the perfect small forward for Brooks’ system.

Amelia Hassett – Power Forward

6-foot-3 JUCO transfer, Amelia Hassett joined the ‘Cats on April 4, becoming the first of Kenny Brooks’ recruits at Kentucky. The Australian native decommitted from Virginia Tech and followed him to the Bluegrass.

Hassett found her start in the U.S. for the Eastern Florida State College Titans, shooting 54.4% from the field her sophomore year. Hassett added 40.4% from the perimeter and 85.2% from the free-throw line, making her the perfect hybrid-post player. The forward averaged 19.0 points and 12.7 rebounds in only 27.0 minutes per game as a Titan. With that, Hassett recorded 20 double-doubles at the end of her sophomore season, and will definitely be making an impact at Memorial Coliseum this year.

Clara Strack – Center

While Strack isn’t the tallest on the team, the 6-foot-5 center has earned the starting spot in my eyes. The Virginia Tech transfer averaged 4.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game under Brooks. She brings some much-needed height to a program that was historically undersized.

While those numbers may seem underwhelming, the rising sophomore proved her potential during the Hokies’ run in the NCAA Tournament. Strack averaged 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks across two postseason games. Her end-of-season efficiency put her in the starting center position in this lineup.

The Bench

As for the subs, Cassidy Rowe and Saniah Tyler will still be crucial for the ‘Cats. Despite a lack of height, the pair of guards are dynamite on defense. Rowe, who drew 25 charges in the 2023-24 season, would be a late-game replacement for Obi if the team is in need of a switch up defensively. Tyler, on the other hand, has shown that she knows how to lead an offense effectively, and could give Lawrence a break from the court.

Freshman commit Clara Silva would be an easy sixth-woman replacement for Strack, given her 6-foot-7 frame. While Strack and Silva are easily interchangeable, Silva’s lack of college experience kept her on the bench for this lineup. However, I could very easily see that changing in the near future.

Even still, Brooks has a variety of players to choose from. Freshman Lexi Blue and junior Teonni Key could also be early bench exits. Blue, a 6-foot-2 guard, was ranked as the No. 38 overall player in her class by ESPN earlier this year. Key, on the other hand, transferred from North Carolina averaging 2.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in 9.5 minutes per game. Don’t let the numbers discourage you, though. Key missed the first 10 games of her sophomore season due to a low body injury.

Freshman guard Tanah Becker could also be a late-game addition to the lineup. Standing at 6-foot-1, Becker’s height might be crucial in end-game offense. Becker has been highly regarded as one of the best players in the Canadian 2024 class. The guard has accrued a slew of achievements, including being a two-time Canadian All-Star in the WNBA Without Borders camp. Becker averaged 12.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.4 steals per game as a senior at Hamilton Heights, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

With a new season on the horizon, fans are definitely eager to see what tricks Brooks has up his sleeve.