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Matthew Mitchell announced a five-player recruiting class for the University of Kentucky women’s basketball team that is ranked as high as No. 5 in the country, which is the highest (with one previous year) every for the Wildcats program.
The UK class is ranked No. 5 by Blue Star Basketball, No. 7 and No. 9 by Hoopgurlz.com and No. 25 by the All-Star Girls Report.
“I believe they will do special things during their careers at Kentucky,” Mitchell said.
The highlight of the class is New York St. Michael guard Jennifer O’Neill, who is ranked No. 25 by Blue Star and No. 30 by Hoopgurlz and All-Star Girls Report. She averaged 22 points and seven assists and was named a fourth-team preseason Parade Magazine All-American.
She picked UK over Georgia and California.
“Jennifer in my mind is the best pure point guard in the class of 2010,” Mitchell said. “She’s an unbelievable playmaker. Her ability to handle the basketball and get herself in position to score or set her teammates up to score is unmatched.”
LaQuinta Jefferson is a 6-foot guard from LaVergne (Tenn.) that averaged 17.4 points a game last season. She was an All-State performer in Tennessee last season and picked UK over South Carolina.
“LaQuinta is an outstanding talent and one of the most explosive perimeter players in the Class of 2010,” Mitchell said.
Salem (Conn.) Norwich Free Academy guard Kastine Evans averaged 19.7 points and helped lead her team to a 24-2 record last season. She picked UK over Cincinnati and Marquette.
“She is an explosive athlete and has accomplished something as a high school athlete that is rare,” Mitchell said. “She won a state championship in volleyball, track and basketball all in the same year. That speaks to her athletic ability.”
Lexington Christian’s Sarah Beth Barnette has played on the varsity level since the eighth grade and has already amassed 1,247 points and 820 rebounds. She was a member of the 2007 state championship team and averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds a game last season.
“I’m always happy when any player comes to Kentucky but it is extra special when that player is from Lexington,” Mitchell said.
The fifth player in the class is Arlington (Texas) Timberview guard Maegan Conwright, who averaged 12.4 points, 4.0 steals and 3.0 assists a game as a junior.
“She is part of one of the most successful high school programs in Texas and she knows how to win,” Mitchell said of Conwright.
