In a surprising announcement Saturday, Providence Academy junior basketball recruit Maddyn Greenway selected Kentucky as her collegiate destination, picking the Wildcats over Duke, Clemson, Iowa, Stanford, and UCLA — 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.”

A 5-foot-8 guard, Greenway is the state’s highest-rated recruit and 18th-ranked recruit in the nation for the Class of 2026, according to ESPN.

Most people were expecting Greenway to select Iowa as her future stop. Her father, Chad, played for the Vikings after enjoying an outstanding career with the Hawkeyes while her mother, Jenni, ran track at the school.

“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.”

Greenway took an official visit to Kentucky three weeks ago.

“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 No. 18 Louisville on Saturday.