Kentucky WBB included in Top 16 for Olivia Vukosa, the No. 2 overall player in the 2026 class

PStevensKSR

While the vast majority of the recruiting news for Kentucky is within the 2025 class, some significant news regarding a 2026 target dropped on Monday.

Olivia Vukosa, the 6-foot-5 No. 2 overall prospect in the 2026 class according to ESPN, trimmed her list of schools to a “Sweet 16”. Among those 16 finalists was Kentucky. The others are:

Ohio State
South Carolina
North Carolina
LSU
Louisville
Texas
Tennessee
Miami
Baylor
UCLA
UConn
Notre Dame
Iowa
Maryland
Virginia Tech

Vukosa spoke with On3’s Talia Goodman about each of her 16 finalists, including the ‘Cats.

“Mainly, I talk to coach [Josh] Petersen, who I talked to when he was at Miami, and he’s been a great guy throughout the whole process, from when he was at Miami and now at Kentucky. With coach [Kenny] Brooks it was the same thing from Virginia Tech to Kentucky. He’s talked to me a lot. I talk to coach Josh a lot, so I like him a lot. He’s a great guy.”

Rundown of prospects offered by Kentucky

2025

5-star wing Agot Makeer – No. 6 overall, No. 1 wing – Crestwood Prep (Canada)
5-star guard ZaKiyah Johnson – No. 7 overall, No. 4 guard – Sacred Heart Academy (KY)
5-star wing Deniya Prawl – No. 15 overall, No. 4 wing – IMG Academy (FL)
5-star wing Kaelyn Carroll – No. 29 overall, No. 7 wing – Tabor Academy (MA)
4-star wing Lauren Hurst – No. 35 overall, No. 8 wing – Cleveland High School (TN)
4-star wing Aubrey Shaw – No. 36 overall, No. 9 wing – Blue Valley North (KS)
4-star guard Adelaide Jernigan – No. 58 overall, No. 24 guard – Bishop McGuinness (NC)
4-star guard Bryn Martin – No. 61 overall, No. 25 guard – No. Springboro (OH) – Committed to Washington
4-star forward Manuella Alves – No. 64 overall, No. 9 forward – Central Pointe Christian Academy (FL)
4-star guard Madison Parrish – No. 88 overall, No. 37 guard – Mason (OH)
Forward Grace Mbugua – Unranked – Danville Christian Academy (KY)

2026

5-star forward Olivia Vukosa – No. 2 overall, No. 1 forward – Christ the King (FL)
5-star guard Trinity Jones – No. 5 overall, No. 4 guard – Bolingbrook (IL)
5-star guard Bella Flemings – No. 11 overall, No. 6 guard – Overtime Select (GA)
5-star forward Amari Byles – No. 13 overall, No. 3 forward – DeSoto (TX)
4-star point guard Kate Harpring – No. 18 overall, No. 2 point guard – Marist (GA)
4-star point guard Maddyn Greenway – No. 21 overall, No. 3 point guard – Providence Academy (MN)
4-star forward Kamora Pruitt – No. 24 overall, No. 5 forward – Legion Prep Academy (TX)
4-star wing Bella Ragone – No. 26 overall, No. 6 wing – Mill Creek (GA)
4-star guard Sanai Green – No. 29 overall, No. 12 guard – The Steward School (VA)

2027

5-star guard Ivanna Wilson Manyacka – No. 2 overall, No. 1 guard – Bullis (MD)
5-star wing Jordyn Palmer – No. 4 overall, No. 1 wing – Westtown (PA)
4-star guard De’Andra Minor – No. 9 overall, No. 9 guard – Grind Prep Academy (OK)
3-star guard Sydney Savoury – Unranked – Overtime Select (GA)
Forward Isabella Marion – Unranked (international) – Denmark
Guard Madeline Mignery – Unranked – Cardinal Mooney (FL)