Fan Since '70
- OBS, Florida
Giacone
Illini Women's Basketball
- Status
illinihawk16
- Chicago
I know nothing about her, but Tennessee has historically been solid. Even their "down" years post-Summit have been consistent NCAA tourney appearances. I'm happy with the addition!
Been in the running for over a year. Hopefully I'm wrong but I see her going to Virginia Tech
Main reasons I say that is for Coach Duffy (went from Marquette to V-Tech), closer to home plus she just reclassified from 2025 to 2024 class. She marks all the boxes for them.
So the Marquette is kinda out but being familiar with Charlottesville Va and Va tech.is in a remote location Blacksburg is tiny spot. Tennessee is it’s natural rivalry.Im hoping a Champaign Urbana fits better for her as far as community goes..A lot more urban than Tech. Techs winning ways moved to Kentucky with their coach so it’s a rebuild.We are a in he hunt team with way better facilities for women so I hope that matters.UVA is more like Champaign so..Which b the way if he B1G was expanding UVA and UNC would be great picks
Kamryn going to Virginia
Champaign Toast
Fan since Kiwane Garris
According to ESPN, we are in on Taliyah Henderson, the '25 6'0" wing whom they rank #21 in her class. Someone mentioned a few months back on the forum that she would visit this spring.
"Henderson is an elite athlete who is discovering an emerging skill set improvement. She has spent much of her time in high school as a forward and because of increased experience on the perimeter coupled with an improving long range shot and handle, she finds herself quite the hot commodity. She has a strong frame and is a tenacious defender and has that natural athlete feel for the game (the kind where you could put her on any court or field and she'd find a way to make a difference). The left-hander has always been strong on the glass with a solid base of fundamental skills, but recently she has added better finishing around the rim with her off hand and is displaying the ability to stretch the defense with her ability to knock down 3s, making her a tough close-out with her speed, explosiveness, and power. She will gain more valuable experience with the Canadian U18 team in FIBA Americas this June.
Offers: Tennessee, Georgia, Maryland, Arizona, Utah, TCU, Michigan, North Carolina, and Illinois"
Article also names Shania James--5'6" point guard from Example Academy in south suburban Chicago area (alma mater of Jasmine Brown-Hagger)--#42 in their class of 2026 rankings. I hadn't seen her name before.
"James brings relentless energy on the floor and truly competes up and down the court. She has a sharp handle, a flair to her game and carries herself as a "true hooper." As she gains strength and learns how to change pace and become more of a lead guard while reading the floor and in situational moments, she will continue to rise in the ranks."
www.espn.com
"Henderson is an elite athlete who is discovering an emerging skill set improvement. She has spent much of her time in high school as a forward and because of increased experience on the perimeter coupled with an improving long range shot and handle, she finds herself quite the hot commodity. She has a strong frame and is a tenacious defender and has that natural athlete feel for the game (the kind where you could put her on any court or field and she'd find a way to make a difference). The left-hander has always been strong on the glass with a solid base of fundamental skills, but recently she has added better finishing around the rim with her off hand and is displaying the ability to stretch the defense with her ability to knock down 3s, making her a tough close-out with her speed, explosiveness, and power. She will gain more valuable experience with the Canadian U18 team in FIBA Americas this June.
Offers: Tennessee, Georgia, Maryland, Arizona, Utah, TCU, Michigan, North Carolina, and Illinois"
Article also names Shania James--5'6" point guard from Example Academy in south suburban Chicago area (alma mater of Jasmine Brown-Hagger)--#42 in their class of 2026 rankings. I hadn't seen her name before.
"James brings relentless energy on the floor and truly competes up and down the court. She has a sharp handle, a flair to her game and carries herself as a "true hooper." As she gains strength and learns how to change pace and become more of a lead guard while reading the floor and in situational moments, she will continue to rise in the ranks."
WBB recruiting: Top risers, emerging stars and new faces in the first rankings
With the first recruiting rankings of this cycle here, we take a look at the top players in the 2025, 2026 and 2027 classes and who will be the next to rise the ranks.
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Won't do it often but I commend Iowa for the support they are giving Ava Jones. Been a rough few years for her family
Iowa's Ava Jones to medically retire from women's basketball
Ava Jones’ Iowa women's basketball career is over. The Hawkeyes unfortunately announced Friday that she will medically retire from college basketball.
www.desmoinesregister.com
Like I said Charlottesville is a beautiful place and great college community almost just like Champaign with a few more trees and hills.But damn...lol
Champaign Toast
Fan since Kiwane Garris
Five-star guard Divine Bourrage plans official visits and shares what she's looking for in a program
Divine Bourrage gives her thoughts on some of the schools that have been heavily involved in her recruitment so far.
247sports.com
"For the fall, [Divine] Bourrage has scheduled visits to Arizona (Sept. 7), California (Sept. 14), Virginia Tech (Sept. 21) and LSU (Oct. 12). Currently, the elite guard is planning on making her college decision during the fall after narrowing down her list of suitors by the end of this month. ... Bourrage is also receiving interest from Illinois, South Carolina, and Ole Miss, and others. [She] remains open in her recruitment..."
I didn't read the full article as it continues behind a paywall.
"I'm looking for a famILLy," Bourrage said. "I want to make sure the coaches are hands-on because I feel like a hands-on coach will make a school and players more successful."Five-star guard Divine Bourrage plans official visits and shares what she's looking for in a program
Divine Bourrage gives her thoughts on some of the schools that have been heavily involved in her recruitment so far.
"For the fall, [Divine] Bourrage has scheduled visits to Arizona (Sept. 7), California (Sept. 14), Virginia Tech (Sept. 21) and LSU (Oct. 12). Currently, the elite guard is planning on making her college decision during the fall after narrowing down her list of suitors by the end of this month. ... Bourrage is also receiving interest from Illinois, South Carolina, and Ole Miss, and others. [She] remains open in her recruitment..."
I didn't read the full article as it continues behind a paywall.
But still no mention of Illinois.
ptgrd23
- orange county CA
For Lou it was Audie Mathews, then Levi Cobb
For Brad it was Ayo then Kofi
Shauna needs her breakthru recruit that shows she can recruit against big time powers
Berry Wallace was McDAA - she held offers from "Clemson , WV, Michigan, Ohio State, Harvard and Cincinnati" . those are decent WBB schools but not power houses like USC, Stanford, Iowa, Indiana, UConn, LSU or SC. I hope she is the "one"
For Brad it was Ayo then Kofi
Shauna needs her breakthru recruit that shows she can recruit against big time powers
Berry Wallace was McDAA - she held offers from "Clemson , WV, Michigan, Ohio State, Harvard and Cincinnati" . those are decent WBB schools but not power houses like USC, Stanford, Iowa, Indiana, UConn, LSU or SC. I hope she is the "one"
She got a five star recruit and you are still whining???
Fan Since '70
- OBS, Florida
Past Top Illini Recruits / Players (since 2007)
Jenna Smith ranked #69
Lydia McCully ranked #46
Karisma Penn ranked #17 (#2 forward by ESPN)
Destiny Williams ranked #8 All-American (left after 1 game)
Adrienne GodBold ranked #36
Brianna Jones #43
Chatrice White #27 McDAA
Cierra Rice #66
Alex Wittinger #185
Ali Andrews #79
Ariel Scott #39 DNP
Adalia McKenzie #53 ESPN
Camille Jackson #65
Genesis Bryant #46
Makira Cook #82
Kendall Bostic #67
Cori Allen #78
Gretchen Dolan #145
Shay Bollin #33
Berry Wallace #20
Lety Vasconcelos #36
Jasmine Brown-Hagger #54
Outstanding players at Illinois since 2007 have been Jenna Smith, honorable All-American, (3x) 1st team Big Ten, drafted #14; Karisma Penn 2nd and 3rd team Big Ten and played pro-ball); Alex Wittinger 2nd team Big Ten; Genesis Bryant, 2nd team BIG Ten; Makira Cook, 2nd and 1st team BIG Ten; Kendall Bostic, 2nd team BIG Ten.
Envision Brown-Haggar to be a valuable glue player like McKenzie. Berry Wallace needs time to acclimate to college game but should eventually become all Big Ten type player. Do not see her as the women's side 'Ayo' NCAA AA caliber player though. Vasconcelos can become another all Big Ten caliber player with proper motivation and coaching. Dolan is a darkhorse and can become a bigtime scorer or at worst a role player. 2024-2025 recruiting is going to be extremely important to move the needle and getting into championship contention plus replace all the players leaving (Bostic, Bryant, Cook, McKenzie, Shoup-Hill) with even better players. Time for Illini coaches to recruit more like the top teams.
Jenna Smith ranked #69
Lydia McCully ranked #46
Karisma Penn ranked #17 (#2 forward by ESPN)
Destiny Williams ranked #8 All-American (left after 1 game)
Adrienne GodBold ranked #36
Brianna Jones #43
Chatrice White #27 McDAA
Cierra Rice #66
Alex Wittinger #185
Ali Andrews #79
Ariel Scott #39 DNP
Adalia McKenzie #53 ESPN
Camille Jackson #65
Genesis Bryant #46
Makira Cook #82
Kendall Bostic #67
Cori Allen #78
Gretchen Dolan #145
Shay Bollin #33
Berry Wallace #20
Lety Vasconcelos #36
Jasmine Brown-Hagger #54
Outstanding players at Illinois since 2007 have been Jenna Smith, honorable All-American, (3x) 1st team Big Ten, drafted #14; Karisma Penn 2nd and 3rd team Big Ten and played pro-ball); Alex Wittinger 2nd team Big Ten; Genesis Bryant, 2nd team BIG Ten; Makira Cook, 2nd and 1st team BIG Ten; Kendall Bostic, 2nd team BIG Ten.
Envision Brown-Haggar to be a valuable glue player like McKenzie. Berry Wallace needs time to acclimate to college game but should eventually become all Big Ten type player. Do not see her as the women's side 'Ayo' NCAA AA caliber player though. Vasconcelos can become another all Big Ten caliber player with proper motivation and coaching. Dolan is a darkhorse and can become a bigtime scorer or at worst a role player. 2024-2025 recruiting is going to be extremely important to move the needle and getting into championship contention plus replace all the players leaving (Bostic, Bryant, Cook, McKenzie, Shoup-Hill) with even better players. Time for Illini coaches to recruit more like the top teams.
Are Illinois donor’s matching NIL $ like the “top teams”?
Fan Since '70
- OBS, Florida
You would have to ask Whitman. I would hope he has a plan as he promised Illini women would legitimately be contending for championships in a few years when Green was hired. So Whitman must have a way to pay the players needed to achieve that. Right??
Or is it the 5 year plan or maybe it's the 10 year plan.
I think at this point it would make sense to take a little bit out of the football NIL budget in order to get Shauna the talent needed to better compete in the new B1G.You would have to ask Whitman. I would hope he has a plan as he promised Illini women would legitimately be contending for championships in a few years when Green was hired. So Whitman must have a way to pay the players needed to achieve that. Right??
Dan
Admin
Fighting Illini Announce Foreign Tour to Italy and Greece - University of Illinois Athletics
The squad will be visiting Rome, Florence, and Naples in Italy as well as Athens and Glyfada in Greece.
fightingillini.com
ptgrd23
- orange county CA
Excellent team building and recruiting tool.
Fighting Illini Announce Foreign Tour to Italy and Greece - University of Illinois Athletics
The squad will be visiting Rome, Florence, and Naples in Italy as well as Athens and Glyfada in Greece.
3 point girl
- texas
How far in advance do they know they are going? It would be nice to have about 4 months to prepare if fans wanted to go to. Did they literally just find out today?
Fighting Illini Announce Foreign Tour to Italy and Greece - University of Illinois Athletics
The squad will be visiting Rome, Florence, and Naples in Italy as well as Athens and Glyfada in Greece.
That sounds like what the women on the Illini team preach verbatim...To an Orange Kool aid gulper that sounds like tea leaves..lol.I see now that the Big Dogs are in hunt so we need to express that BIG WINNING this season of for nothing less than to close the border,not to stay relevant but move up like this sleeping giant should.We have fertile recruiting areas , great coaching, wonderful facility and just pack the fan base....Come on down Sky and support your fan base by having a college tour.We got Brasillia and Spain in thee house (Kamila go see your teammate. It will help .)Put Peoria and the Quad Cities back in town,not just national.WeNEED THEM Fans Past 6000.
It was good to see Shauna Green on inquirer on YouTube but it would be better if there were more information put out about the recruitment so we don't fall behind those media driven programs..We have strong recruiters,but the media doesn't seem to want our name mentioned on lists of recruits
I'm writing to keep the women with message spot in the view as much as possible
- Status