Who are some potential transfer portal pickups for Kentucky WBB?

Throughout the chaos of the search for a new Kentucky Women’s Basketball head coach, recruiting is as important as ever. Whoever is hired to lead next season’s Kentucky team will have to bring a powerhouse of players with them, especially since six Wildcats have already entered their names into the transfer portal. Ajae Petty, Maddie Scherr, Eniya Russell (three of last season’s top four scorers), and others all have the potential to not return to Kentucky next season, making new pickups one of the most important focuses of this offseason.

For some peace of mind, I’ve compiled a list of a handful of portal targets I think could be good pickups for Kentucky once a new head coach is officially hired. But first, let’s look at the five ‘Cats left at Kentucky at this point in time.

Who’s left on the roster?

As of right now, there are five players on Kentucky WBB’s roster: Saniah Tyler, Amiya Jenkins, Cassidy Rowe, Brooklynn Miles, and Jordy Griggs. While that is subject to change, having only five players on your roster cannot be good for morale. Especially when three of your best players entered the portal within days of each other. As a unit, this five-woman group averaged 26.9 points per game. Griggs, who only played four games, only scored three points on the season as a freshman.

Tyler is arguably the most efficient player that could return. The current sophomore averaged 10.2 points per game with a season-high of 22 points against Lipscomb and Mississippi State. The guard shot 115-335 (34.3%) from the field on the entire season and made 61 three-pointers. As for Jenkins, Rowe, and Miles, the three players made some big contributions defensively for the ‘Cats, and will need this offseason to iron out some offensive struggles. Despite that, these five players could be a crucial component to Kentucky’s 2024-25 season success.

I’ll also note that Kentucky has a pair of high school seniors expected to join the team next season: 6-foot-1 wing Tanah Becker and 6-foot-5 center Ramiya White.

Without further ado, let’s break down some players that Kentucky might want to take a look at, in no particular order.

Liatu King – Pittsburgh

King, a 6-foot senior from Pittsburgh, averaged 18.7 points per game in the 2023-24 season. The forward shot a 52.3% clip, making 246 of her 470 shots from the field. King also averaged 10.3 rebounds per game, putting her up there with the likes of Petty, who averaged 14.2 points and 10.6 rebounds last season. While King is only six feet tall, she’s proven she can use her strength to get into the paint and be efficient on offense and defense.

Nani Falatea – BYU

Nani Faleata had a breakout sophomore year at Brigham Young University, but the now junior battled injuries all season, and stepped away from the program very abruptly in December. After playing in only three games, the guard averaged 8.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. While Faleata didn’t play a full 2023-24 season, the season before, she averaged 15.3 points per game. According to The Next Hoops’ Talia Goodman, Faleata entered the portal on March 18 and has already heard from seven schools. At this point, Kentucky does need a reliable point producer, and Faleata could be the answer.

Hannah Gusters – Oklahoma State University

What Kentucky desperately needs, though, is some size. 6-foot-5 Hannah Gusters could be a solution to that problem. The current senior from Oklahoma State averaged 14.3 points per game last season. While the center only averaged 4.1 rebounds per game, her size would be beneficial to the ‘Cats nonetheless. Gusters spent her freshman 2021-22 season at LSU, where she played in 27 games as a Tiger. Gusters also scored a career-high 27 points in December against Utah Tech but has yet to surpass more than seven rebounds in a game.

Kaylene Smikle – Rutgers

The 6-foot guard from Rutgers shot 40% from the field this past season before an undisclosed injury ended her season 15 games in. The current sophomore averaged 16.1 points and 5.1 rebounds, along with 2.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game. While the status of the injury is unknown, Smikle entered the transfer portal with intentions to play elsewhere. Her size and efficiency from the field are something that Kentucky could use, given that its tallest guard last season was 6-0 Eniya Russell, who also entered the portal. The rest of the Kentucky guards ranged from 5-5 to 5-11. Size in the SEC is crucial, so having consistent shooters who are taller than the average Kentucky player would be helpful.

Taliah Scott – Arkansas

Up next is Taliah Scott. The breakout freshman played in only 20 games for Arkansas, but was a crucial piece to its puzzle. Scott averaged 22.1 points per game as a 5-9 guard and proved that she can maneuver around SEC-sized forwards in the paint. The guard missed a few games due to a back injury, and missed another game due to a “family emergency.”

Scott would be a HUGE pickup for Kentucky, considering her amazing point production and SEC experience. Scott scored a career-high 34 points against Arkansas State towards the beginning of the season, and her future definitely looks bright.

After lots of thought and consideration, I have decided to enter my name into the transfer portal. I want to say thank you to the coaches and staff. Also, thank you to the Arkansas fanbase for embracing me and to everyone who has supported me.

— taliah scott (@thetaliahscott) March 18, 2024

Kailyn Gilbert – Arizona

While Arizona’s Kailyn Gilbert wasn’t featured on its roster toward the end of February, Gilbert didn’t officially enter her name into the transfer portal until March 18. Gilbert entered the transfer portal last season, only to return to Arizona for another year. The current sophomore averaged 15.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Her final game with Arizona took place on Feb. 18, where she only played three minutes in a win against Washington.

Arizona head coach Adia Barnes dismissed Gilbert from the team after that, and told the the Arizona Daily Star “Making tough decisions is part of leadership and I had to do what was best for the team.” While Kentucky definitely wouldn’t want a repeat of Zennia Thomas, a player who was dismissed from the team in January, Gilbert’s abilities could still be a good addition to the Wildcats.

Gracie Merkle – Bellarmine

Finally, Gracie Merkle. The current Bellarmine sophomore stands at 6-foot-6 and was named ASUN Freshman of the Year for the 2022-23 season. Merkle averaged 15.1 points and 11 rebounds per game but missed all of the 2023-24 season due to injury. Her size and basketball IQ would be extremely beneficial to the ‘Cats. On top of that, sources say that Merkle is interested in playing at Kentucky. Being a Mount Washington, Kentucky native, and a player who stayed in-state for the first couple of years of her career, the ‘Cats would be lucky to keep Merkle around. While her team wasn’t entirely successful, Merkle does have the potential to make waves at a Power 5 school within the next year.

While we don’t know who the new coach will be, it’s apparent that Kentucky’s roster will need some help. Whoever the new coach ends up being, he/she will need to bring some players from their former school in order to give Kentucky a chance at competing in the SEC. Plus, there’s still potential that Kentucky players in the portal make the choice to come back to the ‘Cats. However, only time will tell.