Why Amelia Hassett will be more comfortable in second season at Kentucky
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Amelia Hassett started all 31 games in her first NCAA season at Kentucky in 2024.
- Hassett averaged 8.6 points and 7.9 rebounds while playing 33.1 minutes per game.
- Added roster depth in 2025 is expected to ease Hassett’s responsibilities on court.
Kenny Brooks admits that he and his staff “were hard on” Amelia Hassett last season.
The rising Kentucky women’s basketball senior arrived on campus last summer without a second of NCAA experience, yet quickly earned her way to a starting spot on Brooks’ first Kentucky team.
Hassett, a native of Albury, New South Wales, Australia, transferred to UK after two strong seasons at Eastern Florida State College, where she cemented herself as a notable talent in the world of junior college basketball, and earned 2023-24 National Junior College Athletic Association Division I All-America Third Team honors.
In her debut season with the Wildcats, Hassett started in each of UK’s 31 contests, and averaged 8.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 blocks in a whopping 33.1 minutes per game. She is also Kentucky’s top returning 3-point threat, having made 55 from distance at a 32.7 percent rate last season.
Throughout the team’s 23-8 (11-5 SEC) campaign, Hassett was regularly relied upon to do the dirty work — the forward’s hustle was second to none, as she often found herself on the ground while gunning for a rebound, or tasked with the toughest defensive assignment on the floor.
“Obviously, we were hard on Amelia last year,” Brooks said. “Just because we needed her to guard the best player, rebound the basketball on both ends and then make shots, all the while playing 30-some minutes a game. And I thought she had a tremendous year. She really did.”
Similar to the drastic change in responsibility experienced by fellow returning starters Clara Strack and Teonni Key, Hassett struggled at times — particularly during SEC play — to consistently maintain a high level of production.
The “Triplets,” as they’re lovingly called, in addition to graduate guards Georgia Amoore and Dazia Lawrence, were responsible for the majority of Kentucky’s production throughout the season in the wake of offseason injuries to expected contributors Jordan Obi and Dominika Paurová.
This season, Hassett, Strack and Key will have more help. Former top-40 prospect Lexi Blue, who averaged 9.2 minutes across just 23 contests last season, opted to continue her path to becoming a factor for the Wildcats. Obi and Paurová are not only cleared for full activity, but expected to add a sharper edge to this year’s team.
UK also welcomed a trio of all-conference, experienced transfer guards in Asia Boone (Liberty), Josie Gilvin (Western Kentucky) and Tonie Morgan (Georgia Tech), and signed a pair of intriguing freshmen in No. 18 national prospect and McDonald’s All-American Kaelyn “KK” Carroll and 6-foot-5 Swedish center Elsa Vadfors.
Brooks said he believes Hassett is “going to be more comfortable,” in her second season with the Wildcats — simply because she will no longer have to wear so many hats; the added help, per Brooks, will allow Hassett to “be more natural in her position.”
“I think she’s going to be a lot more productive for us,” Brooks said. “And I’m excited for her. I appreciate everything she did for us. To know Millie … Millie has got a big smile on her face, and she’s just happy. She’s very happy to be here.”
