Illinois basketball forward Berry Wallace electrified the Big Ten in her sophomore season, and now it's time for the rest of the country to take notice.
Wallace, a former five-star recruit from Pickerington, Ohio, was the No. 1 scoring option for the Illini during the 2025-26 season. She averaged 18.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 35.7 minutes per game.
The 6-foot-1 forward was a pivotal part of Illinois' success, propelling Wallace to a unanimous selection on the All-Big Ten First Team. She is poised to continue her success this season, and according to ESPN recruiting analyst Shane Laflin, Wallace is a player that fans should keep an eye on in 2026-27.
The country CERTAINLY needs to keep an eye on Illinois’ Berry Wallace.
— Kellen “KellDawg” Sherman (@KShermanSports) September 24, 2026
She is the star of the #Illini, and will benefit greatly from Illinois’ roster retention, and the addition of transfer Divine Bourrage. https://t.co/s4YSke6lil
Wallace joins other top stars from around the country, including Duke center Arianna Roberson and Oregon guard Katie Fiso. She has made big strides in her development at Illinois after being ranked No. 22 in the original class of 2024 SCNext ranking.
Illinois' offense will continue to rely heavily on Wallace, who shot 47.2% from the field and 34.7% from three-point range last season. She will benefit greatly from Illinois' retention and the addition of transfer portal guard Divine Bourrage.
Berry Wallace is on the cusp of a major breakthrough with the Illinois basketball team
Wallace has a chance to make a big jump this season, but according to the Premier Basketball Report, the next step in her development is;
"Proving she can slide over and do those things more from a wing than from a forward spot - although in the mold of a Maddie Siegrist and/or Bridget Carleton (both listed at 6-2), we see comparisons; Wallace's size being the difference."
This is certainly doable with Illinois' roster, especially with Manuella Alves and Gretchen Dolan returning from injury. Shauna Green has a versatile lineup at her disposal and will have the chance to be creative with her lineups.
It doesn't matter if Green wants to go big with Wallace, Alves, and Cearah Parchment on the floor, or just mix things up with Wallace at the wing; this team has a chance to keep opponents guessing all season long.
Wallace may end up being the first scoring option again this season, but she has plenty of great teammates around her who can contribute in big ways. It doesn't all have to be on her shoulders, and if opposing teams start focusing more on the other orange jerseys, it will open things up exponentially for Wallace in the long run.
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