Maddyn Greenway of Providence Academy, a standout athlete and the daughter of former Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway, has made a surprising announcement about her college basketball career. In a decision that has garnered significant attention, the Providence Academy junior has verbally committed to play basketball at the University of Kentucky.
This decision was revealed on Saturday, marking a pivotal moment for the state’s highest-rated recruit and 18th-ranked recruit in the nation for the Class of 2026, according to ESPN. Maddyn chose the Wildcats over other prominent schools, including Duke, Clemson, Iowa, Stanford, and UCLA, which were her other five finalists pared down from 40 offers.
“I’m so excited to be going to Kentucky,” Greenway said. “There were so many positives to every one of the schools. I now have one school that I can fully support.”
While many anticipated Greenway would follow in her family's footsteps and choose Iowa, where her father, Chad, had an outstanding career with the Hawkeyes and her mother, Jenni, ran track, Maddyn decided to forge her own path.
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“I have always been a Hawkeye fan,” Maddyn Greenway said. “My decision was probably a little hard on my dad. Both of my parents have been very supportive. They never put any pressure on me where to go.”
The Deciding Factor: Coach Kenny Brooks
Greenway's official visit to Kentucky three weeks prior played a crucial role in her decision. “Once I visited the school I loved it,” Greenway said. “I told my parents the first day, ‘I’m going here.’ I couldn’t envision myself telling Coach [Kenny] Brooks, ‘No.’ ”
The Wildcats are off to a 3-0 start in their first season under Brooks. They are ranked 20th in the Associated Press poll and play state rival Louisville on Saturday.
“Coach Brooks was one of the first to recruit me when he was at Virginia Tech,” Greenway said. “I built a great relationship with him. I trust him and his staff so much.”
Greenway and Brooks “rarely talk basketball,” Greenway said. When they did, the speedy point guard was sold on the home of thoroughbreds.
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“He told me I was his ‘plan A,’ ” Greenway said. “He wants me to play fast just like I am now.”
Brooks guided Virginia Tech to the Final Four in 2023. He led the Hokies to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances in eight seasons with them. He owns a career record of 520-204, after starting his career with a 14-year stint at James Madison.
“A few years back we were watching a Virginia Tech game and we really fell in love with the way point guard [Georgia Amoore] was playing,” Providence Academy coach Conner Goetz said. “We talked about how they have similar play styles and the relationship that he has with his point guards. Once Coach Brooks took the job at Kentucky, it seemed like a whole new world of possibilities opened up.”
A Proven Winner
Greenway has been the guiding force of Providence Academy’s three consecutive Class 2A state championships. The Lions have compiled a 109-12 record since she joined the starting lineup as a seventh-grader. She averaged 34.3 points per game as a sophomore, her second consecutive year eclipsing 30 points. Greenway became the second-fastest player in state history to reach 3,000 career points, passing the milestone in February.
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“Maddyn has elite athleticism and shot creation ability,” Goetz said. “She processes the game at a speed not many ever have.”
A three-sport athlete, Greenway also excels in soccer and track and has won state titles in each. She netted 42 goals during the Lions’ state soccer championship run in Class 1A earlier this fall. Greenway won the Class 2A 300-meter hurdles with a time of 43.94 seconds last spring.
“Her college choice could not be a more perfect fit,” Goetz said.
Representing Team USA
As I mentioned Monday, Maddyn Greenway will be representing her country playing basketball.
She is actually in Colorado Springs right now training for a trip to the Czech Republic next week to play for the Team USA Under 19 team.
The senior to be at Providence Academy in the Cities has led her high school team to 4 straight state titles starting with her 8th grade season. She’s scored over 4,000 points already in her brilliant career and has already decided on Kentucky for college basketball over an incredible list of suitors.
Mount Vernon native and former Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway was on Calling All Sports today and shared his excitement for the opportunity his daughter is getting.
Chad Greenway says, “Yeah it’s almost hard to describe. I don’t think when you seek out sports that you think you’ve ever have a chance to watch your child put on the red, white and blue and wear a uniform and represent her country. I know it’s not the Olympic team or the Olympics, it’s just so tremendous. You can’t even fathom the feeling we have right now, it’s just unreal. She’s got an amazing opportunity to win a gold medal for the USA and that would be pretty dang crazy.”
Maddyn is practicing with the team now at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and they head to the Czech Republic next week for the tournament.
Maddyn Greenway Drops 51 Points! #1 Providence Academy vs #3 Minnehaha!
Family Life and Beloved Pet
It isn't uncommon to see the girls playing and practicing with basketballs and soccer balls at the family's Wayzata home. But when you see the neon yellow of a tennis ball, it's Derby who will be close behind. The reddish-gold pup lives to play fetch, Chad found out early on. "When we got him, we found out he loved tennis balls," Chad said. "When we were at the pool or on the lake, once you start throwing the ball, he just never stops. He loves it. You literally have to take the ball inside or put him inside to get him to stop.
When Chad, Jenni and the three oldest girls (Carsyn wasn't born yet) visited a breeder in search of their next family dog, Derby immediately drew all of their attention. Chad said Derby is the ideal family dog who never seems to run thin on patience.
Derby regularly makes it into the Greenway family Christmas photo, sometimes even sporting a matching set of festive pajamas or a sweater. He doesn't do quite as well with birthdays, though, being that he's deeply afraid of balloons.
Jenni grew up with a miniature poodle, DeeDee, who spent 13 wonderful years with the family.
"Derby's definitely been the most patient and easygoing dog we've ever had, for sure," Chad said. "He loves the kids.
Pursuit of a Scoring Record
Greenway has the rest of this season, and then her senior season left to play. She already has over 4,000 career points and is on pace to set Minnesota's all-time scoring record of 5,060.
“Obviously, that's the goal,” said Greenway. “I do think that me and Tori are on the road to that.”
Crosby Ironton's Tori Oehrlein is also a junior with an equal shot at the record. For years, the two have been on a collision course to see who can break the record and be the last one standing.
“I think it's cool, what she's doing; the fact that we both have a chance to break it in the end,” said Greenway. “Obviously though, we are competitors in a sense. One and two-ranked in the state.
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