‘I was a little in shock.’ UK signee talks McDonald’s All-American Game and Kenny Brooks
On Tuesday night, Big Blue Nation will have the opportunity to catch a glimpse at Kentucky women’s basketball’s first McDonald’s All-American since 2020.
Kaelyn Carroll, Kenny Brooks’ sole incoming freshman, will duke it out against and alongside some of the best and brightest names in the class of 2025 in this year’s iteration of the McDonald’s All-American Game. This year’s boys and girls games, taking place in the week leading up to Final Four weekend, will be hosted in Brooklyn, New York, at the Barclays Center.
Carroll, UK’s first McDonald’s All-American signee out of high school since Treasure Hunt, is a 6-foot-3 wing out of Tabor Academy (Massachusetts), and committed to Brooks and the Wildcats in late November from a list of finalists that also reportedly included South Carolina and North Carolina. Carroll, the No. 15 overall prospect in the class and the top-ranked recruit in her state, said the selection wasn’t necessarily expected.
“I was a little in shock,” Carroll said. “But also super happy to see that a lot of my hard work was paid off. You know, we grow up watching these players play. I definitely did, looked up to a lot of them, and it’s super cool to be a part of it.”
The Dedham, Massachusetts, native eclipsed 1,000 career points this season, despite sustaining several injuries over the course of her career, including a torn meniscus which required surgery, a severe ankle sprain, a torn quad and a concussion. She averaged double-figure scoring as a senior.
Carroll has dreamt of playing in the Southeastern Conference, and now is just a few months away from joining Brooks and the Wildcats on campus. Though UK’s first season under Brooks ended before the program had hoped, with a narrow overtime loss to Kansas State in the NCAA Tournament round of 32, Carroll said the next level of Kentucky women’s basketball “is only just starting,” and that she’s excited to continue what momentum was built in year one under Brooks.
Following Tuesday’s McDonald’s All-American Game, where Carroll will suit up alongside in-state prospects ZaKiyah Johnson (LSU) and Leah Macy (Notre Dame), plus future SEC foes in Tennessee signees Jaida Civil, Mia Pauldo, Deniya Prawl and South Carolina pledges Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell, among others, Carroll will finish her academic career at Tabor before turning to the next phase of her basketball career.
While Carroll won’t be the only new face on Kentucky’s 2025-26 team — as Brooks and his staff are expected to use the transfer portal to fill out the roster in light of six departures — she is expected to fit nicely into Brooks’ system.
“And just speaking with Coach Brooks about my role,” Carroll said. “I’m the only freshman coming in for Kentucky, so we’ve had a lot of conversations about my versatile play and how that will continue through college, as well, because we’ve got a lot of big posts on the team. So I’ll probably be more on the outside wing.”
Carroll’s commitment, the result of years of recruiting and relationship building by Brooks and his staff, marks another instance of the continued turning tide that is Kentucky women’s basketball as Brooks works to elevate (and sustain) the program’s notoriety, popularity and success. When asked about growing the presence and popularity of Kentucky women’s basketball among a community that has always celebrated “the boys’ side,” Carroll complimented Brooks’ immediate success.
“With Coach Kenny and his new coaching staff,” Carroll said. “You can see this year how well he’s doing. They made it pretty — not too — far this year, but they accomplished a lot. And Georgia Amoore coming out of Kentucky, hopefully getting to the league, is super huge for the girls’ side. And I’m excited to continue those accomplishments.”
Girls McDonald’s All-American rosters
Players are listed with their college destinations.
EAST
▪ Nyla Brooks, North Carolina
▪ Kaelyn Carroll, Kentucky
▪ Jaida Civil, Tennessee
▪ Aaliyah Crump, Texas
▪ Jaliya Davis, Kansas
▪ ZaKiyah Johnson, LSU
▪ Leah Macy, Notre Dame
▪ Agot Makeer, South Carolina
▪ Mia Pauldo, Tennessee
▪ Deniya Prawl, Tennessee
▪ Lara Somfai, Stanford
▪ Hailee Swain, Stanford
WEST
▪ Dee Alexander, Cincinnati
▪ Sienna Betts, UCLA
▪ Aaliyah Chavez, Oklahoma
▪ Jasmine Davidson, Southern California
▪ Addison Deal, Iowa
▪ Alexandra Eschmeyer, Stanford
▪ Grace Knox, LSU
▪ Ayla McDowell, South Carolina
▪ Brynn McGaughy, Washington
▪ Aliyahna Morris, California
▪ Emilee Skinner, Duke
▪ Jordan Speiser, Kansas State
Tuesday
McDonald’s All-American Games
6:30 p.m.: Girls game (ESPN2)
9 p.m.: Boys game (ESPN)
