2023 UConn Commit KK Arnold Is Wisconsin Basketball Royalty

By: Melo Williams 

Phone Rings:
Melo: “Yoooo!”
Guy on Phone: (In Amazement) “Yo man, I know you watching KK at State and if you ain’t, you tripping tripping, I’m serious. This girl is COLD! She is  having her way at State and she is only a Sophomore.”

Melo: (Laughing) “Where is she from?”
Guy on Phone: (Shockingly) “Germantown”

Melo: (Laughing) Man, quit playing I’ll hit you back.
Guy on phone: Bet. Turn her on and hit me back.

After hanging up my telephone I proceeded to turn my television on to see who KK Arnold was and what the hype was all about.

That day and for the duration of the 2021 Wisconsin Girl’s State Basketball tournament, Kamorea “KK” Arnold had her way at will. She controlled the tempo of the game beautifully offensively as a point guard, but to see her control the game with her defense was special. KK on ball defense was relentless. I said to myself, “she has a mamba mentality and she’s going to be a problem for years to come in women’s basketball.” I knew I had just witnessed something magical and special with KK Arnold and instantly became a fan of hers.

As a sophomore, KK was offered a scholarship from her dream school the UConn Lady Huskies. Geno Auriemma is an 11x National Champion coach at UConn. He knows a thing or two about basketball and talent when he sees it, so it made perfect sense to offer a player whose dream it was to play at UConn and who has the high-level skill set to play at UConn with the potential to be one of the best women point guards in college basketball history and one of the best basketball players he ever coached.

That same sophomore season, KK led the Germantown Warhawks to their first Wisconsin state championship. She scored 31 points on 12 of 18 (.667%) shooting with seven assists in the 63-48 win over Hudson in the Division 1 title game.

That season she averaged 22.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 3.8 steals. She was named the Gatorade Wisconsin Girls Basketball Player of the Year, MaxPreps Wisconsin Girls Basketball Player of the Year, and AP’s Wisconsin State Player of the Year.

As a junior at Germantown High, Arnold averaged 24.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 4.4 steals and was named Wisconsin’s Gatorade Player of the Year for the second straight season. KK didn’t win a high school basketball state championship in her junior year but she was awarded other opportunities in the summer that would have her competing against other players her age from around the world.

This year, KK was invited twice to try out for two different Team USA national teams. One was for the U-17 National team in May and the second invite was for the FIBA U-18 World Cup. A concussion in May prevented Arnold from being able to make the U-17 National team and compete. When it was time for tryouts for Team USA 3 on 3 team, you better believe KK Arnold was mentally and physically ready to compete.

Head Coach Dilonna Johnson of Beloit Memorial HS Lady Purple Knights basketball said “There are players that have it, and players that are it. KK Arnold is IT. You don’t see many high school female basketball players that can score the ball at will and play with a Mamba level of tenacity. She is in the same pool with Wisconsin native Arike Ogunbowale when it comes to her playmaking and finesse.”

Jamaal Eubanks of HBCU Sports Outreach described KK‘s talent as next-level elite. Said she’s physically ready with a high IQ. A true floor general point guard.

Team USA included UConn Class of 2023 commit KK Arnold, Class of 2023 LSU commit Mikayla Williams, Class of 2023 Oklahoma commit Sahara Williams, and Class of 2024 player Sarah Strong.

The gold medal for Arnold was her second with USA Basketball to go with the one she captured at the 2021 FIBA U-16 Americas Championship.

I got the opportunity to sit down to learn more about KK Arnold the person of great character with an incredible outgoing personality who wears a consistent confident humble smile on her face on and off the basketball court.

MW: What is KK’s GPA in HS and what will be her major in college?

Mrs. Arnold: KK has maintained a B average while challenging herself in selected advanced academic courses. She will major in Sports Mgmt./Broadcasting at UCONN.

MW: As a parent that understands the game of basketball how has it been watching KK’s growth as a player?

Mrs. Arnold: I have to say sort of “un-real” KK has three older siblings (2 brothers and 1 sister) and there are 10/15 years between them and KK. So KK grew up in the gym and early on you could see and many would say that she was different, but as a parent, you just say yeah she like the game and loves being in the gym but to see her continue to evolve and develop has been pretty special for us as her parents. She clearly is athletic but GOD gave her something special as well in our opinion.

MW: How has the highs and lows of becoming a better player helped KK grow as a person?

Mrs. Arnold: Well, we have raised her to understand that basketball is not just a game, but a life lesson, and just like in life she will experience those ups/downs (wins/losses) but the blessing is often through the storm (wins/losses) so she has again embraced that and it helps to keep her humble but confident. While I believe that she is an awesome basketball player, she is a better human being and that will take her further in life after the ball stops bouncing.

MW: Explain the feelings of the family when KK was offered a scholarship by Coach Geno.

Mrs. Arnold: Excited for her! Her dream was now a reality. KK has said since 3rd grade that she would play for Coach Geno, even when we would tell her that Coach Geno would most likely not be coaching by the time she got ready to go to college, she heard none of it. So as she started this process and the offers came in, we would often say so what will happen when UCONN offers? The family was all in agreement that because that was her dream school it would most likely be the school she would choose to attend.

MW: How does it feel being a 2x Gold Medalist in high school?

KK: Crazy. I think I kept saying to myself you are a 2X USA Gold Medalist. I called my 3×3 Gold Medal “redemption” as I got hurt and was not able to complete trials and compete with my U16 5×5 team-mates but then the opportunity to attend trials and make the 3×3 team and what a great experience, just thankful and humbled for the opportunity.

MW: What have you learned about yourself as a player while competing internationally?

KK: I love the game and to be blessed with the opportunity to be selected to play internationally for that I am just humbled and thankful. I also learned that I have the ability to adapt to different coaching styles.

MW: What’s the greatest advice Coach Geno has given you to date?

KK: When I talk to Coach he often talks about my defense and how sometimes you cannot change the game on the offensive side, because sometimes your shot is off or your team is just not scoring so you have to figure out other ways to impact the game and that is through defense so always making sure that I am playing hard on defense.

MW: Favorite UConn and WNBA player of all time?

KK: My favorite UCONN players are Maya Moore and Moriah Jefferson. My favorite WNBA player is also Maya Moore.

MW: Paige Bueckers announced she’s returning to Storrs for her senior year, have you thought about the possibility of you and Paige in the same backcourt because I’m excited to see it.

KK: Yes, I was so excited to hear that Paige plans to return, just saying that the backcourt is going to be crazy.

From the moment I got that call about KK in 2021, I haven’t stopped watching her play since. As I sat and watched with great enjoyment the 2022 WNBA Finals to cap off summer basketball, I couldn’t help but think that one day I’ll be watching KK Arnold dominating a Finals series leading her team to a WNBA Finals Championship.

For whatever reason that the basketball cards aren’t aligned with a joyful career of continued success as a D1 scholarship athlete at UConn and being one of the next future potential WNBA stars, appreciate KK the person and basketball player now in her senior season at Germantown HS in Wisconsin. She’s box office and everything you want to watch and see in a basketball player.

However, I feel were about to witness something special and great with KK Arnold’s basketball journey.

I believe in a theory that all college-level and professional athletes are just more skillful and blessed with God-given abilities for said sport others arent, work harder than most, and most have a unique story in their life aligned with success in said sport.

Out of those athletes you have those that are just special though. They possess all the qualities to be great in said sport. They meet the expectations of having the “IT” gene. Charisma. More committed and disciplined to the process.

KK Armold has all of that. The Mamba Mentality of hard work to be great and better than your competition in that sport, she has the abilities and qualities tangible and non-tangible with the “it” gene, with a story. KK is destined for greatness and I’m here courtside figuratively for it along with her biggest fans and supporters the Arnold family.

I truly believe when it is all said and done when the ball goes flat for KK playing career, outside of team success and personal accomplishments and goals, KK’s greatest assist will be her major contribution to helping continue growing the sport of basketball, mainly women’s basketball but more importantly women respect, rights, and empowerment in society.

KK Arnold is rated No. 1 overall in Wisconsin and the No. 6 recruit in her class of 2023 by ESPN. KK committed to UConn and on Friday, November 11, 2022, at Germantown HS, she’ll be signing her official National Letter of Intent committing to the UConn Lady Huskies.

MAJOR SHOUT OUT TO KK & THE ARNOLD FAMILY! Thank you ALL for working with me so hands-on through the extensive process. You tremendously helped made the process so grassroots, easy, exciting, and fun. I feel like I got to know the family somewhat during the process, so I know the Arnold family is a great hardworking family of strong faith, gratefulness, humbleness, loyalty, and love. It was worth every ounce of energy and time creating this feature. Enjoy the journey with continued blessings!

Fun Fact: Did you know that KK Arnold’s basketball jersey from her sophomore year at Germantown HS is currently in Tennessee’s Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee.