A Final Four contender has two ex-Kentucky Wildcats in its starting lineup
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- TCU starting lineup features two ex-Kentucky Wildcats, powering upset at NC State
- Maddie Scherr and Clara Silva delivered scoring, rebounds and defensive plays
- Article lists two dozen former Kentucky players impacting rosters across NCAA
Fast-break points from “the ones who got away:”
21. A Final Four contender starting 40% ex-Cats. With two former Kentucky Wildcats in its starting lineup, the then-No. 17 TCU women’s basketball team went on the road and upset then-No. 10 North Carolina State 69-59 on Sunday .
20. Maddie Scherr. The former Ryle High School star, who played for UK from 2022 through 2024, had four points, four rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block for TCU at NC State. Through four games, the 5-foot-10 Scherr is averaging 8.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.8 steals.
19. Clara Silva. A freshman on Kenny Brooks’ initial UK team last season, the 6-7 Portuguese center had a double-double for TCU at NC State, 11 points and 12 rebounds, and also blocked two shots. Silva is averaging 10 ppg, 9.5 rpg and 2.8 blocks.
18. Teionni McDaniel. A season ago, the 5-9 McDaniel averaged 14 points playing for Georgetown College. This season, McDaniel is averaging 14.6 points playing for Boston College of the ACC.
17. From Georgetown College to torching UConn. In the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Exhibition last month in Uncasville, Connecticut, McDaniel dropped 23 points on defending national champion UConn even as BC took an 84-67 loss.
16. Gracie Merkle. After changing her mind about transferring from Penn State to Maryland, the 6-6 center, a former Bullitt East star, is averaging 19.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 blocks and shooting 65.4%.
15. Claire Johnson. After transferring from Samford to Nebraska, the 5-9 former McCracken County guard is averaging 10.5 points and shooting 51.9%.
14. Travis Perry. Switching to the men’s side, the former Lyon County star and ex-UK guard is off to a rough go at Mississippi. In the Rebels’ past two games, the 6-1, 185-pound sophomore has shot a combined 0 of 11, 0 of 9 on 3-point tries. Through four contests, Perry is averaging 4 points and 2.3 rebounds and shooting 22.7%.
13. Zvonimir Ivisic. The former UK big man is now playing on the same Illinois team as his brother Tomislav Ivisic. “Big Z” is averaging 8.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.3 blocks and shooting 61.9%.
12. Daimion Collins. Now playing for South Florida after a stop at LSU, the 6-9 ex-UK forward is averaging 4 points and 4.5 rebounds and shooting 66.7% through four games.
11. Aaron Bradshaw. Now playing for Memphis after a stop at Ohio State, the 7-1 ex-UK forward is averaging 4 points and 1.7 rebounds while shooting 36.4%.
10. Ugonna Onyenso. Now playing well for Virginia after a stop at Kansas State, the 7-foot former Kentucky center is averaging 9.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks while shooting 64%.
9. Bryce Hopkins. Now playing for Rick Pitino and St. John’s after a stop at Providence College, the 6-7 ex-UK forward is averaging 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and shooting 50%.
8. D.J. Wagner. Now the only former Kentucky player still playing for John Calipari at Arkansas (there are also two former UK signees there who never played for the Cats), the 6-4, 190-pound junior guard is averaging 9.5 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists while making 41.4% of his shots.
7. Kerr Kriisa. A backup point guard on Mark Pope’s initial Kentucky team last season, the 6-3, 185-pound Kriisa is playing for Cincinnati this year and averaging 6.5 points and 5 assists while making 26.7% of his shot attempts.
6. Max Green. Switching to former Kentucky boys high school stars, the 6-6, 190-pound ex-Oldham County Colonel is averaging 6 points and 2 rebounds while making 52.9% of his shots in his first season playing for Northwestern after transferring from Holy Cross.
5. Jacob Meyer. After previous stops at the College of Charleston and DePaul, the former star at Covington Holy Cross is averaging 14.5 points and 3.3 rebounds for UAB. However, the 6-2, 190-pound guard — a 36.6% 3-point shooter in his first two college seasons — has made only 1 of 12 treys to start his Blazers career.
4. Colin Porter. The 5-10, 170-pound former Ashland Tomcats point guard is off to a strong start to his senior season at Liberty. Porter is averaging 14 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists and making 60.9% of his shots.
3. Teagan Moore. After sitting out last season at Western Kentucky due to injury, the 6-5, 220-pound former Owen County star has returned to action with a roar. Moore is averaging 19.3 points and 6.7 rebounds and hitting 55.9% of his shots.
2. JJ Traynor. After four seasons on the Louisville roster and a year at DePaul, the former Bardstown star is using a final season of college eligibility at Murray State. The 6-9, 210-pound forward is playing well, too, averaging 9.8 points and 3.3 rebounds while making 53.8% of his shots.
1. Kaleb Glenn. After beginning at U of L and starring last season at Florida Atlantic, the ex-Male High School forward transferred to Michigan State — and would have gotten to play against Kentucky Tuesday night in the State Farm Champions Classic had he not torn his patellar tendon last summer.
