Elzy Leaning on Veteran Leadership for Upcoming Season
© 2022 Trane . All Rights Reserved .
The motto for this year ’ s Kentucky women ’ s basketball team is “ Built Different ”. And when Kentucky takes the floor this fall , the Cats will certainly be built differently than they have the past few years . In fact , UK will basically have a brand new team . Gone is the school ’ s second all-time leading scorer , Rhyne Howard , who graduated , was drafted first in the WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream , and was recently named Rookie of the Year following her first professional season . In addition to Howard , the Cats lost key contributors Dre ’ una Edwards , Jazmine Massengill and Treasure Hunt to the transfer portal . While there have been both a number of departures and newcomers , there will be some familiar faces on the UK roster this season . And those players will be counted on for stability and leadership , among other things . Head coach Kyra Elzy will be leaning on her five returnees ( Robyn Benton , Blair Green , Emma King , Nyah Leveretter , and Jada Walker ) to provide leadership for the 10 newcomers . “ We have five returners – Blair , Emma , Jada , Nyah and Robyn ,” Elzy said . “ That ’ s a core , veteran group that understands the expectation and standards of this program .” The Cats lost some players in the transfer portal , but they were also able to pick up some players who should contribute this season . Former Kentucky Miss Basketball Maddie Scherr transferred in from Oregon and should be a key cog in the UK attack this season . Elzy also added South Carolina transfer Eniya Russell , LSU transfer Ajae Petty and Adebola Adeyeye from Buffalo . Elzy hopes that they experience of these players will help this year ’ s Cats . “ They all have veteran experience ,” Elzy said . “ They have college experience and they understand what it takes to be successful at this level .” Elzy and her staff added an impressive , six-player recruiting class . That class includes Kennedy Cambridge , Tionna Herron , Amiya Jenkins , Cassidy Rowe , Zennia Thomas and Saniah Tyler . “ We have six rookies . They do not know what is going on or what has hit them ,” Elzy said . “ But they are talented and I love that they have no ‘ back down ’ in them .” Green is back for her fifth season with the UK program . The Harlan , Kentucky native , missed all of last season after an Achilles injury in the preseason . She ’ s looking forward to getting back on the court . “ I just really want to focus on making an impact this year in any way that I can ,” Green said . “ And leaving it all on the court .” Green has taken on a primary leadership role for this year ’ s team , something that she is handling well . “ I think it ’ s coming pretty natural . Last year was pretty huge , being more of a vocal leader ,” Green said . “ Coach Elzy and all of the coaches have prepared me for this .” Elzy is very excited to have Green back on the floor this season . “ So happy to have Blair Green back ,” Elzy said . “ She has worked extremely hard . We have to remind her that an off day is an off day . She is a great asset to us . Her ability to shoot the basketball , I called her a sniper . But also , her veteran experience . She brings that to us . She understands what we need and want
in this program . She makes us different on the floor .” Scherr is another player who will be counted on this season . The Ryle High School graduate knows that and she wouldn ’ t have it any other way . “ I transferred here to contribute . That ’ s definitely my plan ,” Scherr said . “ I ’ m definitely somebody who wants my team to win at all costs . I feel like we ’ re going to need me to produce , especially in the leadership role . We really needed somebody to draw everybody in . I ’ ve been stepping into that role .” Elzy knows that Scherr needs to be a leader for this year ’ s team . “ It was great to have Maddie Scherr come back home ,” Elzy said . “ She knows what it means to put that jersey on . Maddie brings a competitive spirit and a high basketball IQ . I ’ m counting on Maddie to be a leader on this team .” Sophomore guard Jada Walker returns this season after an outstanding freshman campaign . Walker averaged 10.4 points per game and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team following the season . She hopes to build on her big freshman year . As for what Elzy has noticed about her team so far in practice , Elzy did not hesitate with her answer . “ Competition ,” Elzy said . “ They all want to play . You will earn it in practice , so everybody ’ s trying to earn the right to play . So , I think that ’ s sparked our competitive spirit .” And while the faces may have changed , the goals remain the same for this year ’ s Cats . “ Our goal is to compete for a championship ,” Elzy said . ( I ’ m ) excited about what the future holds for this team .”
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