Former Virginia Tech players and recruits talk about what drew them to Kentucky women’s basketball….

‘A no-brainer.’ Why Georgia Amoore, Amelia Hassett and others followed Kenny Brooks to UK.

It’s all about relationships for Kentucky women’s basketball head coach Kenny Brooks. Whether one asks his assistant coaches, or even UK’s recruiting targets, the answer is consistent — relationships and family are at the center of everything. It’s a mantra that’s brought him success at each of his coaching stops, from James Madison to Virginia Tech, and — just a few months removed from the 2024-25 campaign — positioned Kentucky for potential in this new chapter. On Brooks’ inaugural Kentucky roster, six players — including his daughter, redshirt freshman transfer Gabby Brooks, and highly regarded incoming freshman Clara Silva — had ties to Virginia Tech while Brooks was at the helm, whether it meant suiting up for the Hokies during last year’s regular season Atlantic Coast Conference championship, or signing with the program’s 2024 recruiting class. Players like All-America point guard and graduate transfer Georgia Amoore and rising sophomore center Clara Strack, two of Virginia Tech’s most prominent players — Strack having taken on a larger role in postseason play following the season-ending ACL injury sustained by Virginia Tech legend Liz Kitley — opted to start new chapters in the Bluegrass. No. 40 overall prospect Lexi Blue and touted junior college transfer Amelia Hassett flipped their commitments from Virginia Tech to UK in the weeks following Brooks’ hiring, committing to a life in Lexington, sight unseen.

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All-America point guard Georgia Amoore, a fifth-year transfer from Virginia Tech, listed UK’s conference among the reasons Kentucky is an attractive destination. “SEC funding is crazy, the support they pour into athletes is insane.” Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com Clara Strack, a transfer from Virginia Tech, called moving to Kentucky “a really easy decision for me.” Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com It begs the question — why? So much change comes with the decision to uproot and begin anew somewhere else, regardless where a player may be in their college career. Significant roster movement, changes in commitments and the transfer portal certainly aren’t rare, but Brooks has managed to maintain an uncommon consistency in the wake of what was one of the most-discussed coaching moves in the sport.