UK has one of nation’s most veteran backcourts, but their potential is ‘still evolving’

Kentucky women’s basketball coach Kenny Brooks has referred to his graduate guard duo of Georgia Amoore and Dazia Lawrence as “probably the oldest backcourt in the country.”

Amoore and Lawrence, both 23 years old and in their final seasons of eligibility, were well aware of the responsibilities and expectations that would come along with a transfer to Kentucky. But, oldest? “It depends how it’s delivered,” Lawrence said laughing.

In turning the page to a new chapter, both in his career and for Kentucky women’s basketball, Brooks understood that a strong sense of leadership was paramount.

With only two players returning from the Wildcats’ 2023-24 roster, neither of whom had played much, new faces would have to plug in and contribute right away. All-America graduate point guard and Virginia Tech transfer Amoore was always expected to steer the ship, but she couldn’t do it alone.

The answer? Bringing in two additional 1,000-point scorers with hundreds of games of Division I experience to work alongside Amoore and, ideally, lay the foundation for new levels of success. One of those high-scoring guards, Penn transfer Jordan Obi, is sidelined for the foreseeable future with a lower-leg injury.

“I thought they would all be complementary of each other,” Brooks said. “You know, with the experience that they had, they all get along extremely well. They’re great people, and that was a big recipe for us.”

In the wake of Obi’s injury, Amoore and Lawrence — the Wildcats’ starting point guard and shooting guard, respectively — serve as the on-court pioneers.

“When you say ‘the most veteran backcourt,’ I’ll take that,” Lawrence said. “You say, ‘the oldest,’ it’s like, ‘How long have these girls been to college?’ I take it as a compliment. A veteran. I have knowledge of the game. Both of us, we’re just ready to play, honestly. With these veteran legs, with this veteran knowledge. We’re just ready to have fun and play.”

Through the No. 22 Wildcats’ (2-0) first two games this season, they appear to be doing just that.

In back-to-back dominant victories against South Carolina Upstate (a 55-point margin) and Northern Kentucky (a 29-point win), Amoore has averaged 12.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.5 blocks. Lawrence has delivered 9.5 points, 1.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals.

Amoore and Lawrence both playing new roles at Kentucky

Though UK’s new offense under Brooks is predicated on effective post usage and everybody finding and capitalizing on their spots on the court, his spin on it is very different from what you’ll see across much of women’s college basketball. On top of that, Brooks’ standard is high.

Ahead of the season, Amoore told the Herald-Leader that she’s been impressed with Lawrence’s ability to adapt to her new role at Kentucky.

“She took some time to learn some things,” Amoore said. “Because I think at Charlotte she was number one. And here, I think that we’re all so capable. And, I mean, that’s what happens when you go a level up, right? But she’s been incredible. She’s figuring out the offense, she’s taking her shots. She’s dead-eye, like this woman does not miss from mid-range, but she’s figuring out the passing aspects of it, too. So she’s been incredible, and that just comes with being a veteran and learning a role and adapting to it. She’s not just a mid-range shooter, she’s not just a 3-point shooter, she’s not just a defender. She very much is very well-rounded.”

After Thursday’s win over NKU, in which Lawrence finished with 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal, Brooks spoke to the difficulties of learning how to play together in the face of so much change.

“We’re still evolving, you know?” Brooks said. “I’m trying to figure out who’s going to be who. We want Dazia Law to be able to facilitate some, score some.”

Brooks only has experience coaching Amoore and sophomore center — and current leading scorer — Clara Strack. Naturally, it’s all about trust. And, as the season plows on, Brooks’ and his staff’s comfort with the newer faces will grow. As Brooks always mentions, the team that fans experience at this point in the year is far different than the one they’ll see come spring.

Even Amoore, with her tight-knit relationship to Brooks, has acknowledged the struggles of working toward embracing her new role.

“I think most of it comes back to the aggression that I’m trying to be by being number one,” Amoore said. “Because growing up as a junior, it was ‘key or 3,’ the lane or a 3. That was kind of what was taught to us. But now, the mid-range is not a bad shot. Like, yeah, it’s two points, but if you’re open, it’s easy. And I think I come off a lot of on-balls, and I think I’m known to be a 3-point shooter, so if people do pressure me, I can get downhill and pull up without going too far, where I’m putting me at a disadvantage because that’s where the long girls are.”

And who has the best opportunity to benefit from that on the court?

“It’s a perfect sweet spot for shooting guards,” Amoore said.

Making the relationship work

The Amoore-Brooks connection is coming in clutch for Lawrence, who’s happy to take advantage of the resource.

“I lean on Georgia for everything,” Lawrence said. “Just everything Coach Brooks-wise. Basketball-wise, if we’re running a play or if I just have a question like, ‘What does Coach Brooks want in this situation?’ Or, ‘What is he like in these situations?’ I lean on Georgia a lot, just because she’s been with him for the longest, so she knows him the best. So whenever I have a question, I go straight to Georgia.”

For Brooks, a relationships-first coach through and through, this was all part of the plan. And now, with a top-25 ranking and a team eager to improve, things are beginning to come together.

“(Amoore has) been able to interject and say, ‘Hey, this is what we got to do. Blah, blah, blah,’” Brooks said. “And she’s pretty much just taking the responsibility from me so they can hear it from a different voice. She’s like another assistant coach out there. She’s played in the biggest games, I’ve seen her perform on the highest level, and so that’s comforting to know. We wanted to pair her with somebody that was experienced. And Dazia Lawrence, what she did at UNC Charlotte, you know, scoring at a high clip. Now she won’t have to do it all, but has the ability to score.”

Tuesday

Wofford at No. 20 Kentucky

When: 6 p.m.

TV: SEC Network+

Records: Wofford 2-0, Kentucky 2-0

Series: Kentucky leads 2-0

Last meeting: Kentucky won 98-37 on Dec. 19, 2020, in Lexington

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