Illinois basketball has become a contender for top high school talent, with multiple high-profile recruits making visits to Champaign in recent months.
The Illini, who finished 22-12 last season, have quickly jumped into the public eye during the Shauna Green era. They have had a revolving door of recruits visiting Champaign, including Charis Rainey and Eyani Mills, who visited the campus earlier this year.
The future looks bright for the women's program, as Green continues to scour the world looking for the best talent. They continued their recruiting success this past weekend, when five-star recruit Chloe Johnson made an unofficial visit to Illinois.
5⭐️ recruit Chloe Johnson (ranked #2 in the Class of 2028) on her [unofficial] visit to Illinois. pic.twitter.com/YYfPB0LUqd
— E J 🏀 (@EJayArrow) October 16, 2026
Johnson, a Duluth, Minnesota product, is the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2028 SportsCenter NEXT - Super 60 rankings. She is considered a generational five-star talent by analysts across the country, recording 31.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game last season.
The 6-foot combo guard is being heavily recruited by the best teams in the country, receiving offers from the likes of South Carolina, UConn, USC, Duke, Iowa, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Michigan, and Illinois.
Chloe Johnson will become the face of Illinois basketball if she commits to the program
Illinois basketball has seen a resurgence over the past four years, as Green has completely changed the trajectory of the program. She has made Illinois a place where top recruits want to go, signing three five-star recruits during her tenure: Berry Wallace, Destiny Jackson, and Divine Bourrage.
If Green can sign Johnson, she will secure an elite perimeter scoring option for when her current crop of talent departs. Green will have a top-tier guard at her disposal who can score at all three levels and an ability to create shots for her teammates.
Johnson wouldn't have a starting spot waiting for her, as Jackson, Bourrage, and others will be towards the tail end of their eligibility, but once they leave, she would easily become the main focal point of the offense.
Don't expect Illinois to be favorites for Johnson right now, especially with programs like UConn and South Carolina in the running. It will take a lot to get her to Champaign, but the fact that Illinois is in the fight should be a reason to be excited.
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