UK women land a top recruit

O'Neill ranked 30th overall in her class

By Jennifer Smith / jsmith3@herald-leader.com

Mark Cornelison | Staff

Mitchell makes most of Madness UK women's basketball coach Matthew Mitchell danced in front of his players on the Rupp Arena court during Big Blue Madness on Friday night. Mitchell, entering his third season as head coach, already is lining up a solid recruiting class for next year.

After a weekend of Madness, the Kentucky women and Matthew Mitchell picked up one of the top point guards in the nation.

Jennifer O'Neill, ranked as the 30th best player in the nation by Hoopgurlz.com, will play for UK, her high school and AAU coach confirmed Sunday evening.

O'Neill, a 5-foot-6 point guard who made an official visit to Kentucky over the weekend, chose the Cats over Georgia and California.

The player from New York City's Saint Michael Academy is the second point guard commitment for UK next season. She is the 10th best point guard in this class, according to Hoopgurlz.

"She's a relentless competitor and a gym rat," Coach Apache Paschall said of O'Neill. "She's going to work harder than anybody else in any situation she's in."

An evaluation by Hoopgurlz said that what O'Neill lacks in height she makes up for in "strength, passion and ball handling panache." The site also refers to her as an animated player with the confidence to take charge.

O'Neill is the Cats' second commitment in the top 100 for next season. They also have No. 74 Samantha Drake from Nelson County.

Another point guard, Maegan Conwright of Arlington, Texas, also verbally committed to Kentucky in late September. UK also has a long-time commitment from Lexington Christian wing player Sarah Beth Barnette.