Five takeaways from Kentucky’s first women’s basketball practice of 2023-24

The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team ushered in the 2023-24 season Tuesday with its first official practice of the year.

This new-look Kentucky team — which features three new faces and eight healthy returners — will aim to improve upon last season’s overall record of 12-19 (2-14 SEC) and return to the caliber of roster capable of winning a league title and making a run in the NCAA Tournament.

In addition to plenty of talk by head coach Kyra Elzy about this season’s renovation-driven exodus of Memorial Coliseum for Rupp Arena and improving team communications, here are five takeaways from the Wildcats’ open practice.

Apparent starters

Following the loss of starters Robyn Benton and Blair Green to graduation, Jada Walker to the transfer portal and Nyah Leveretter to a torn ACL, senior guard Maddie Scherr stands alone as the Wildcats’ sole returning starter from last season.

A team already suffering from a lack of depth, what with the added blow of impact freshman Kennedy Cambridge’s transfer to Ohio State, must now field a starting five comprised of names many wouldn’t have expected to win the job.

Though nothing is confirmed at this point, the five players who appeared to get first-team reps were Scherr, freshman Jordy Griggs, sophomores Amiya Jenkins and Saniah Tyler and senior post Ajae Petty.

All eyes on Petty

With the lack of a veteran UK post presence in Leveretter’s absence, the program is heralding Petty as the answer. At her Give Back Camp in August, Elzy told the Herald-Leader that the team is expecting big things from the senior.

“Ajae Petty has probably had her best postseason summer that she’s had at Kentucky,” Elzy said. “She has transformed her mind and her body.”

Petty, a native of Baltimore, Md., transferred to UK ahead of the 2022-23 season after two seasons with LSU. She ranked fifth in scoring for the Wildcats last season with 5.7 points per game in 15.1 minutes per game. She also ranked third on the roster in rebounding (4.7).

During the open practice, Petty was noticeably stronger and more communicative than during her junior season. She was the first player through the door and repeatedly beat her teammates down the stretch during sprints.

Questions remain at point

When Elzy brought in 2021 Miss Kentucky Basketball honoree Brooklynn Miles via the transfer portal, many expected the 5-foot-4 guard to assume the role of point guard. Elzy told the Herald-Leader in August she challenged Miles to step up and lead.

“Brooklynn brings the veteran experience,” Elzy said. “She has a toughness about herself, an edge. And she’s willing to do whatever it takes to make this thing better. I really challenged her this summer to be a vocal leader. Lead from the front in the point guard position. And I just love her energy.”

Miles’ arrival at UK from Tennessee reunites her with former Kentucky Premier teammates (and fellow Miss Kentucky Basketball winners Jenkins and Scherr). Scherr told the Herald-Leader during a one-on-one in July that during their time on the AAU circuit, Miles’ presence allowed for Scherr to tackle the guard position off-ball as opposed to spending most of her minutes running point.

Following last season when Scherr and Walker split point guard responsibilities, the specifics of who exactly will be the primary point guard — if one does emerge — remain unclear.

During the open practice, Miles was running point with what seemed to be the second team. What looked to be the first team saw both Scherr and Tyler bringing up the ball. Miles was vocal and hustling throughout the practice, so much so that Elzy shouted her out in the concluding huddle during a breakdown of what the team did well.

Russell sidelined

One of three returning transfers from last year’s roster, senior Eniya Russell was present at practice but did not participate in drills or activities apart from baseline sprints.

She spent the entirety of practice working with strength and conditioning coach Lee Taylor on the sideline.

A UK Athletics spokesperson said Russell is ramping back up to return to the team but did not specify a reason for her lack of participation in addition to noting that she was not injured.

Russell joined the Wildcats after two seasons with South Carolina, where she won a 2022 NCAA championship and two regular season SEC titles. Last season with the Wildcats, Russell averaged 3.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 11 minutes across 23 games.

Freshmen faces

As freshmen last season, Jenkins, Tyler, Cassidy Rowe and Zennia Thomas combined for a small fraction of UK’s total minutes, not seeing much floor time even at the team’s lowest moments.

Even Jenkins, the freshman class’s lone healthy ranked recruit at No. 94, saw a total of only 230 minutes across 26 games. (Ex-Cat Tionna Herron, now at Texas, was the No. 69 recruit in the class of 2022 but sat out the season recovering from preseason open heart surgery).

Neither of Elzy’s two incoming freshmen, Griggs, a 6-foot-2 guard from Montverde (Florida) Academy, and Janaé Walker, a 6-4 forward from Sandy Creek High School (Georgia), were ranked in the nation’s top 100, but they’re likely to play far more minutes this season than the majority of the now-sophomores did last season because of the current team’s shortness of depth and height.

Griggs and Walker joined the Wildcats and instantly became two of the tallest players on the roster, and provide much-needed depth behind Petty in the post. In August, Elzy told the Herald-Leader that the freshmen brought energy and a competitive spirit all summer.

“I only asked three things from our freshmen,” Elzy said. “Be coachable, be a sponge. Empty your tank and when you don’t think you have any more, you do. And don’t back down from anyone just because you’re a freshman. You’re here to learn. You’re here to play. You’re here to compete.”

Scherr praised Griggs for her hustle and finish during practice in the final huddle. Both freshmen appeared receptive to critique and coaching from Elzy and assistant coach Crystal Kelly, who oversees the post group.

▪ Season tickets for Kentucky’s upcoming women’s basketball season are available via Ticketmaster, which is also where returning season ticket holders may renew their season tickets.

Important upcoming dates

Oct. 13: Big Blue Madness, 7 p.m.

Nov. 1: Exhibition game vs. Kentucky State in Rupp Arena, 11 a.m.

Nov. 7: Regular season and home opener vs. East Tennessee State at Transylvania University, 7 p.m.