Kentucky eighth grader talks Team USA minicamp, early basketball recruitment
During Final Four weekend, Tampa, Florida, played host to the cream of this season’s women’s college basketball crop.
UConn’s Geno Auriemma secured his 12th national championship — the most by any college basketball coach, ever — and Paige Bueckers successfully capped her collegiate career with a long-coveted title. Dawn Staley and South Carolina made their fourth title game appearance since 2017. UCLA made its first NCAA Final Four appearance, while Texas reached the national semifinals for the first time since 2003.
WNBA and NCAA women’s basketball legends descended upon Amalie Arena. Coaches from across the United States flocked to learn, network and observe the latest and greatest in the sport. Highly touted outgoing seniors showed out in the Women’s College All-Star Game.
However, amid all the action regarding the current stars of the college game, there was also space for celebrating the future.
USA Basketball hosted its third annual Women’s Junior National Team minicamp from April 3-6; the event welcomed 45 fast-rising up-and-comers in the high school ranks, offering players the chance to “participate in a series of educational presentations and attend the semifinal games on Friday night,” according to USA Basketball.
Among those invited to participate was one of the most sought-after prospects in Kentucky, and a top athlete to watch in the high school class of 2029.
Jayden McClain — a 6-foot-6 14-year-old playing varsity basketball for Ryle High School under head coach Katie Haitz — was one of only two eighth graders invited to the minicamp, alongside Georgia-based forward Carib Morris, and for good reason.
Holding scholarship offers from Kentucky, Cincinnati, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Xavier and more, McClain is the daughter of Anthony McClain, a former Cincinnati men’s basketball player and Harlem Globetrotter, and Samantha McClain, a former Cincinnati State women’s basketball player.
A standout for the Raiders and a member of Under Armour AAU giant Finest Basketball Club (FBC) — which has produced some of the biggest young names in women’s basketball, from Kentucky legend and Atlanta Dream star Rhyne Howard to Ohio State freshman Jaloni Cambridge to 2024-25 NCAA Division I leading scorer Ta’Niya Latson, who stopped the presses this week with her transfer commitment to South Carolina — McClain was a little nervous at the start of the minicamp, but quickly eased into the excitement.
“It was a good experience to see what it’s like at USA,” McClain said. “And it was just fun meeting new people.”
At the minicamp, McClain reconnected with familiar faces — like Morris, her roommate for the weekend — who she’s had the opportunity to meet throughout her basketball journey, whether on the AAU circuit or through camps like BlueStar 30, an invitation-only camp for elite girls basketball players.
Together, the 45 minicamp invitees enjoyed the fun that comes with such an opportunity, including attending the Final Four matchups, getting to know each other and “running around the hotel,” but also gained valuable insight and experience alongside and against one another.
“I learned how to use my body better,” McClain said. “And I also learned how to step out of my comfort zone.”
This past season with Ryle, McClain was the team’s second-leading scorer, contributing 10.2 points per game, and its leading rebounder, grabbing an average of 8.8 over the course of 32 games. She was named to the All-9th Region Third Team, the 33rd District All-Tournament Team and reset the program’s single-season blocked shots record with 128.
It marked a massive jump from her varsity production as a seventh grader, when she averaged 1.7 points and 2.1 rebounds across 26 games with the Raiders. According to McClain, the difference was aided by her upperclassmen, with whom she really connected this year.
“I got to figure out how to play with them better,” McClain said. “And just got stronger in the offseason.”
McClain said she experienced new growth in both her confidence and her abilities.
“Starting with the AAU season,” McClain said. “I caught myself doing things I’d never done before. Just kind of doing whatever and just having more confidence on the court.”
Among those new moves were faking and driving to the basket and shooting 3-pointers. McClain was also proud of how she developed as a shot blocker, and as a defender in general.
As McClain continues to progress, more and more coaches, athletes and fans are taking note. Though it may be early, McClain and her family are taking the time to build relationships with current and former Division I athletes, and Power Four programs alike.
McClain has even found friendship and leadership in “big sisters” around the game. Take Texas center and Ohio native Kyla Oldacre, or former Lady Vol and defensive stalwart Tamari Key, the older sister of Kentucky’s Teonni Key, for example.
“I could text TK (Tamari) whenever I needed advice,” McClain said, ”or help with my hair or outfit, stuff like that.”
When asked which college coaches she’s enjoyed getting to know, McClain mentioned UK’s Kenny Brooks, Ole Miss’ Yolett McPhee-McCuin and Cincinnati’s Katrina Merriweather.
Each of the three coaches appears to either have changed, or are in the process of changing, the trajectory of their programs, from the recruiting trail to postseason success.
In one season with Kentucky women’s basketball, Brooks took a program that had not won more than four SEC games since 2021-22 and made it a double-bye team in the conference tournament with a fourth-place league finish. McClain said she really likes Brooks, “and the whole UK style, too.”
“I like how he trains the girls,” McClain said. “And I just like his way of coaching.”
Since her hiring in 2018, McPhee-McCuin has built Ole Miss into a formidable power. This season marked four consecutive years of NCAA Tournament appearances, at least 20 wins and 10 SEC wins. This season, Ole Miss reached the Sweet 16 for the second time since McPhee-McCuin took over and, on Thursday, reportedly secured a commitment from All-America Ohio State transfer Cotie McMahon.
“She’s very energetic,” McClain said. “And she’s just very fun to be around. But she’s also hard on the girls, too, but also she likes to have fun.”
After taking over a 9-21 Cincinnati team in 2023, Merriweather has totaled 29 wins in her first two seasons with the Bearcats. The biggest victory of her tenure so far, however, came with the signing of Dee Alexander, the No. 8 prospect in the class of 2025, who this spring became the first-ever UC signee to be named a McDonald’s All-American.
“(Cincinnati women’s basketball), they always show me love,” McClain said. “And they always show up to my games during the summer. I also like all their new renovations, the locker room is nice. They’re just like family.”
