As the women’s Illinois basketball team heads into the NCAA tournament, the future continues to look even brighter.
Shauna Green is about to get the Illini into its second Big Dance in the last three seasons. That is a run no one could have imagined just five years ago. With the winning on the court comes success recruiting off of it.
Illinois has been able to bring in some talented transfer portal players, but recruiting freshmen has taken a massive step upward. Berry Wallace was the first huge domino to fall, as the five-star has helped stabilize the program this season after a couple of brutal injuries. She is averaging 8.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest while shooting a team-high 40.5% from three-point range.
Wallace, the No. 22 player in the class of 2024, is about to be joined by Destiny Jackson, the No. 25 player in the class of 2025 and also a five-star recruit.
On Thursday, Jackson continued to wow people on the high school level. She suits up for Whitney Young High School up in Chicago, and the talented guard ended up taking home the Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year honor.
🔥🏆 BIG MOOD: OUR GIRL DESTINY JACKSON JUST SNAGGED GATORADE PLAYER OF THE YEAR! 🏀💨
— Whitney Young Lady Dolphins (@Ladydolphinsgbb) March 13, 2025
She been putting in that WORK, keep making history! 🌟💪🏾 pic.twitter.com/Ob49irv6AN
Jackson helped lead her Dolphins program to a 25-9 record this season. Whitney Young advanced to the Sweet 16 of Class 4A in Illinois, only to lose to the eventual state champion, Kenwood. Jackson’s 21.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.8 steals per game paced her team.
Illinois basketball is going to bring back one dangerous team for the 2025-26 season
I have high hopes Illinois can win at least one game in the NCAA tournament this season. The way we have been playing signifies that we can do some damage in the Big Dance.
No matter the result of this current campaign, I am also excited for the future. Jackson is going to join a young and talented Illinois roster for next season.
Jackson should come in and start at point guard for the Illini in 2025-26. I think Gretchen Dolan, who was averaging 10.5 points and hitting 35.5% from three-point range before injury, should be the No. 2 guard.
Berry Wallace is going to get comfortable being a stretch-four for the Illini. She can hold her own in the paint with her 6-foot-1 size, but she is also a great three-point shooter. Wallace will be one of the most dangerous players in the Big Ten next season.
Jasmine Brown-Hagger will be back for her junior year. She should start at the No. 3 spot. I also liked what I saw from freshman Hayven Smith in the limited minutes this season. She got some good playing time over the past few weeks, and she might be a good option at the No. 5 spot with her 6-foot-6 size.
Illinois is poised to continue this great play. We have the talent now and in the future who could help build this program into a perennial NCAA tournament program.