Emily McDonald ‘shoots the lights out’, has a ‘skill set well beyond her years’

Emily McDonald may not be a five-star freshman like Maddyn Greenway and Savvy Swords, but there is almost no doubt that McDonald is not only the best shooter of the three, but probably even the best shooter of the entire 2026 class as well. It wasn’t too long ago that we watched her win the Sprite JamFest 3-Point Contest, coming out of the girls’ bracket to defeat Missouri men’s basketball’s Jason Crowe Jr. to win the overall contest. It sounds like McDonald is already showing off her three-point prowess in summer workouts. “Emily was the three-point champion at the McDonald’s Game, and as advertised, she shoots the lights out,” Kenny Brooks said in his interview with KSR. “She’s great, but she has great movements, great basketball IQ. She has a skill set that is well beyond her years. She’s gonna offer that element to us.” Brooks mentioned McDonald as a possible backup point guard option as well. She ran the point a little bit in high school, and with her 6-foot frame, she could realistically suit up in positions 1-3 and be serviceable. With the mixing and matching that can be done with this year’s 12-deep roster, McDonald could play a multitude of roles for Kentucky — all while putting the ball in the hoop at an elite rate. “You’re gonna see us put her in certain situations,” Brooks said. “She’s a great shooter, and she’s only gonna continue to get better and better and better. So, we’re excited for her contributions this year.” More Kentucky News and Views on the KSR YouTube Channel Kentucky Sports Radio has expanded its coverage of the Wildcats in the most ridiculous manner possible on our YouTube Channel. Here you will be able to find interviews with coaches and players, as well as commentary from the KSR crew. From Rapid Reactions following big events to our lengthy lineup of live shows, subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel to stay up to date on everything happening around the Big Blue Nation.