Highly-Recruited Stars Emily McDonald & Savvy Swords Sign with UK

The ESPN Top 25 duo are seniors at Long Island Lutheran

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s basketball program inked two players to its incoming class to tip off the early signing period, head coach Kenny Brooks announced Thursday. Four-star, 6-0 guard Emily McDonald and five-star, 6-1 forward Savvy Swords will join the program as freshmen in 2026-27.

Emily McDonald

6-0 | Guard | Buffalo, N.Y. | Long Island Lutheran

Emily McDonald, a Buffalo, New York, native, is ranked No. 23, according to ESPN, in the Class of 2026. She played her high school freshman and sophomore seasons at St. Mary’s of Lancaster in Buffalo, New York, where she was named a two-time All-Catholic First Team pick, two-time All-Western New York pick, two-time All-State pick and received her team’s most valuable player honor in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Emily McDonald (UK Athletics Photo)

McDonald then played last season and this season at Long Island Lutheran in Brookville, New York, alongside fellow signee Savvy Swords. Last season as a junior, she averaged 12.7 points per game, 6.1 rebounds per game, 3.1 assists per game, 2.1 steals per game and 1.4 blocks per game en route to helping her team to as high as a No. 4 ranking in the nation in 2024-25.

That same year for the Crusaders, McDonald earned several individual accolades, including Hoop Hall Most Valuable Player, Bluestar Showcase Most Valuable Player and the Coaches Award.

She is in her senior season there, which tips off in early December.

Beyond high school girls’ basketball, she also played for Team Northeast on the Select Events Power 24 Circuit. Her team was one of four No. 1 seeds on the circuit, and McDonald also earned All-Power 24 Third Team honors. Her summer with Team Northeast helped the versatile guard jump from No. 39 to No. 23 on the ESPN rankings for the Class of 2026.

From Emily McDonald:

“I can’t wait to be a part of one of the nation’s best recruiting classes! I look forward to growing as a player and a person under Coach Brooks and the entire staff at Kentucky. I am excited to call Big Blue Nation home and be a part of the Kentucky family!”

From Kenny Brooks:

“I’d like to welcome Emily to Big Blue Nation. E Mac has the ability to be a tremendous shooter and crafty playmaker. Her competitive spirit will be infectious to all those around her. The blue and white will look great on her!”

Savvy Swords

Forward |Sudbury, Ontario, Canada | Long Island Lutheran

Savvy Swords, a Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, native, is ranked No. 9, according to On3, and No. 18, according to ESPN, in the Class of 2026. She is in her fourth and final season at Long Island Lutheran, which tips off in early December.

Savvy Swords (UK Athletics Photo)

Despite playing just five games as a junior last season, she averaged 16.0 ppg, 13.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 3.0 spg, while shooting 60.0 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from the arc and 90.0 percent from the stripe, before sustaining an injury in 2024.

In just her short time playing her junior season at long Island Lutheran, Swords had already hauled in the 2024 Art Turner Classic Most Valuable Player award and the 2024 Iolani Classic MVP honor.

Outside of high school girls’ basketball, she also played for Kia Nurse Elite, Canada’s only Nike Girls’ EYBL affiliate team. In the U17 division in 2024, she was a top 10 scorer and rebounder, and also was named to the All-EYBL Second Team.

Swords also was a team captain on her Team Canada U16 and U17 teams. In 2023, she helped Team Canada to a FIBA U16 Americup silver finish, while being named to the All-Star Second Team in the process, and in 2024, she aided Team Canada to a U17 World Cup silver finish, where she again was named to the All-Star High School Second Team.

The incoming forward earned invitations to the Canadian Senior Women’s National Team training camps in both 2024 and 2025.

From Savvy Swords:

“I’m so excited to be a part of the Kentucky family and to be able to learn from Coach Brooks and the rest of the staff. BBN is the best and I can’t wait to get to Lexington and get to work!”

From Kenny Brooks:

“I’m happy to announce the addition of Savvy Swords to Big Blue Nation. Savvy is a tough, skilled forward that will contribute to our team immediately. She is a great rebounder, shooter and has a high basketball IQ. She will look great in the blue and white!”