Why elite prospect Olivia Vukosa likes Kentucky women’s basketball, Kenny Brooks
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- Top-3 recruit Olivia Vukosa has Kentucky among final seven college choices
- Vukosa cites Kenny Brooks’ post player development and Wildcats' team culture as key draws
- Versatile big ranked high in EYBL stats, seeks strong support and competitive program
Kentucky women’s basketball target Olivia Vukosa doesn’t listen to music or go through any typical mental warm-ups to psych herself up before a game. Instead, she talks to her dad.
“He just calms me down,” Vukosa said. “Makes sure I’m in the right mindset.”
It’s just one of many ways in which Vukosa, the No. 3 overall prospect in the class of 2026, stands apart from her fellow recruits.
A 6-foot-4 forward/center capable of playing all five positions and scoring at all three levels on the floor, Vukosa has cemented herself as a dynamic post player throughout her careers with legendary high school program Christ the King (N.Y.) — the alma mater of WNBA greats Sue Bird, Tina Charles and Chamique Holdsclaw — and the Croatia junior national team.
With Nike EYBL club Philly Rise this summer, Vukosa ranked in the top 15 in scoring at 15.1 points and blocked shots at 1.4 and was fourth overall in rebounding at 8.1 boards in 25.3 minutes per game. She shot an efficient 55.6% (70-for-126) from the floor, including 34.6% (9-for-26) from 3-point range, and 87% (47-for-54) from the free-throw line.
Vukosa is also the AAU teammate of 2027 prospect Jordyn Palmer, who is the No. 6 overall recruit in her class and announced receiving a Kentucky offer in August 2024.
The Herald-Leader caught up with Vukosa this weekend at Nike Nationals in Chicago to discuss the latest updates in her recruitment.
Last summer, Christ the King head coach Bob Mackey told the Herald-Leader that Vukosa’s versatile talent and unmatched work ethic quickly demonstrated “this kid’s different.” Vukosa told the Herald-Leader this weekend that her drive to “want to be able to do whatever I need for a coach” pushes her to lean into the versatility of what a post player can be.
“I definitely want to be considered an all-around player,” Vukosa said. “I want to be able to have the trust of my coach to bring up the ball if need be. And I think I’m working on that now, and I’ll continue to work on it wherever I go.”
Vukosa drew several high-profile eyes at the EYBL Tournament of Champions, including those of UK head coach Kenny Brooks and associate head coach Lindsey Hicks. Also in attendance were representatives from all of Vukosa’s other six finalists — Connecticut, LSU, North Carolina, Ohio State, South Carolina and Texas.
After keeping her options open and taking the time to get to know the dozens of Power Four coaches offering her, this year’s New York Gatorade Player of the Year announced her final seven on March 13. Her original “Sweet 16” also included Baylor, Iowa, Louisville, Maryland, Miami (Fla.), Notre Dame, Tennessee, UCLA and Virginia Tech.
When looking to pare down her options, Vukosa began with the obvious — “Who talks to me the most?” She then considered which schools offer the best mix of what she values the most.
“Definitely a family atmosphere,” Vukosa said. “I want to be able to go to a staff and ask them for help, and not have to go to my parents right away. Kind of be an adult a little bit and figure it out on my own, and I know that I’ll have that support system there.”
Vukosa has not yet taken a visit to Kentucky but plans to do so “sometime in October-November.” Rivals recently reported that she will visit Ohio State on Aug. 28, Texas on Sept. 5 and North Carolina on Oct. 26, and that she plans to visit each of her finalists before making a decision.
When asked what she likes about Brooks and his staff, Vukosa immediately mentioned the coach’s history of post development.
“How he trains his bigs,” Vukosa said. “I mean, obviously Liz Kitley, she was amazing at Virginia Tech. Even though he’s not at Virginia Tech anymore, he’s at Kentucky, I still think he brings that family atmosphere, and he brings that big work.”
Close with her Christ the King and Philly Rise teammates, Vukosa is looking for a similar chemistry in her college teammates.
“Just people I can always go to,” Vukosa said. “A second family, a bunch of sisters.”
With four of her seven finalists competing in the Southeastern Conference, Vukosa also highlighted the perks of possibly playing in the SEC. However, regardless of conference, the talented big is seeking top-level competition and a winning culture.
“It’s very competitive,” Vukosa said. “Very. And I like being competitive. I like winning, and I know everyone in that conference likes to win, too. So I know, wherever I go, I’ll have a winning team.”
This story was originally published July 22, 2025 at 1:00 PM.
