Big Blue Nation Rolls Out the Royal Treatment for Sara Okeke During Vanderbilt Visit
Sara Okeke, the top uncommitted prospect in the 2026 class, was in the building Thursday night when Kentucky hosted Vanderbilt at Historic Memorial Coliseum. And while the Wildcats didn’t walk away with a win, the atmosphere left a lasting impression - especially when it came to how the crowd embraced their high-profile visitor.
Midway through the game, the energy in the arena shifted. The student section - always loud, always creative - broke out into a booming chant: “WE WANT SARA!”
It wasn’t just noise, either. Fans came prepared, hoisting a Spanish flag and waving a custom-made “We Want Sara!”
sign, all directed toward the 6-foot-4 center from Spain who sat courtside soaking it all in.
It was a moment that said a lot about Kentucky’s fanbase. Even in a tough game, the focus wasn’t just on the scoreboard - it was on the future. And Okeke, who’s fresh off an MVP performance at the 2025 FIBA U18 EuroBasket Championship, is a big part of what that future could look like.
In that tournament, Okeke averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game, leading her team with a poise and presence that turned heads across the international basketball scene. She’s currently playing her high school ball at DME Academy in Florida - the same program that produced current Kentucky guard Dominika Paurová - and while she’s not yet listed in the major recruiting rankings, that’s about to change. ESPN’s Shane Laflin has already labeled her an “international five-star” and a “top-20 talent” expected to break into the rankings this spring.
Kentucky isn’t the only school in the mix. Okeke is making the rounds - she’ll see the Wildcats again on Monday when she visits them in Texas, and she’s also slated to visit Indiana. Other heavy hitters like UConn, South Carolina, LSU, Tennessee, Louisville, and Miami are all in pursuit, making this one of the most competitive recruiting battles in the 2026 cycle.
But if Thursday night was any indication, Kentucky’s doing everything it can to make a lasting impression. The chants, the signs, the energy - it was all part of a full-court press from Big Blue Nation, and Okeke was clearly at the center of it.
She may not have seen a win on the scoreboard, but she saw something just as powerful: a fanbase that shows up, gets loud, and makes sure its top targets know exactly how wanted they are. For Kentucky, that kind of passion might just be the X-factor in landing one of the most talented prospects in the world.