Kenny Brooks and Kentucky are in the running for a Miami (OH) transfer

There's no doubt that the transfer portal is buzzing as programs scramble to secure their next talents for their depth charts.

In his second season (2025-26) as head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team, Kenny Brooks orchestrated a remarkable turnaround. The team finished with a 23-10 record and made its first Sweet 16 appearance in a decade. Unfortunately, the Wildcats' postseason aspirations came to an end with a 76-54 loss to the top-seeded Texas Longhorns in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.

Against all odds, Brooks and the Wildcats exceeded expectations after being projected to finish eighth in the SEC. Instead, they tied for sixth in the conference, earned a 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament, and achieved multiple victories against top-five opponents—LSU and Oklahoma—for the first time in school history.

The Wildcats are gaining momentum and are now focused on navigating the chaos of the transfer portal to maintain strong roster depth.

One player to keep an eye on for Kenny Brooks' squad is Ilse de Vries, a transfer from Miami (OH). The 6-foot-3 sophomore from the Netherlands has become highly sought after since entering the portal. This past season, she averaged 12.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, one steal, and 1.9 blocks per game.

De Vries played in and started all 35 games for the Redhawks, earning third-team All-MAC honors along with a spot on the All-MAC defensive team. She set a school record with 65 blocks this season and made 59 three-pointers—hitting at least one triple in 30 of her 35 games—and scored in double figures on 24 occasions.

Reports indicate that Kentucky is among three programs vying for her services, alongside Stanford and Iowa State. We will keep you updated on how this plays out for Kenny Brooks.

This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky WBB working to land transfer portal forward Ilse de Vries