Illini Women's Basketball

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#376      
IllGuardU
Champaign Toast said:
We lost to the portal: guard Jayla Oden and center Liisa Taponen

A 2024 recruit who could fit the lead guard role is target Shay Ijiwoye, who visited us at the same time as commit Berry Wallace. Some other ranked uncommitted lead guards from that class are Zamareya Jones--whose game resembles Cook's IMO--Delaney Gibb, and Britt Prince; however, I haven't seen anything that indicates the staff has offered any of these three.

Or, perhaps the lead guard to take up the mantle after Cook is already on the 2023-24 roster. Rising junior Adalia McKenzie has already put her game on display. What happens when she emerges fully from the shadow of Cook and Bryant? Maybe 2023s Allen and Dolan have "it", and opportunity is ripe next year for holdovers Jackson and Rhodes to compete for the role of impact ballhandler off the bench.

Or, as you suggest, the portal will be there next spring as well!

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Yes please😊
 
#377      
Illinirog70
Champaign Toast said:
We lost to the portal: guard Jayla Oden and center Liisa Taponen

A 2024 recruit who could fit the lead guard role is target Shay Ijiwoye, who visited us at the same time as commit Berry Wallace. Some other ranked uncommitted lead guards from that class are Zamareya Jones--whose game resembles Cook's IMO--Delaney Gibb, and Britt Prince; however, I haven't seen anything that indicates the staff has offered any of these three.

Or, perhaps the lead guard to take up the mantle after Cook is already on the 2023-24 roster. Rising junior Adalia McKenzie has already put her game on display. What happens when she emerges fully from the shadow of Cook and Bryant? Maybe 2023s Allen and Dolan have "it", and opportunity is ripe next year for holdovers Jackson and Rhodes to compete for the role of impact ballhandler off the bench.

Or, as you suggest, the portal will be there next spring as well!

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Wow, what highlights! She looks to be the embodiment of Makira Cook! You didn't mention Geyton from Peoria as a potential recruit-- has that ship sailed?

Losing Jayla will hurt a bit as she was such a good outside shooter. But her small size made her vulnerable to other Big Ten guards. I think she saw the handwriting on the wall with all the big wings coming in, and left with the coaches blessing. Liisa had size and not much else; the portal transfers would have pushed her further down the bench.

2023-2024 will be even more talented than last year IMO. I don't think that they will sneak up on anyone, however, and I thought that we maxed out on wins (winning every winnable game) and that doesn't happen every year. But they surely are fun to watch and in ascendency (unlike the men!)
 
#378      
Champaign Toast
Illinirog70 said:
Wow, what highlights! She looks to be the embodiment of Makira Cook! You didn't mention Geyton from Peoria as a potential recruit-- has that ship sailed?

Losing Jayla will hurt a bit as she was such a good outside shooter. But her small size made her vulnerable to other Big Ten guards. I think she saw the handwriting on the wall with all the big wings coming in, and left with the coaches blessing. Liisa had size and not much else; the portal transfers would have pushed her further down the bench.

2023-2024 will be even more talented than last year IMO. I don't think that they will sneak up on anyone, however, and I thought that we maxed out on wins (winning every winnable game) and that doesn't happen every year. But they surely are fun to watch and in ascendency (unlike the men!)
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I forgot about Guyton. I don't know where recruitments stand other than those who have made commitments.

I wonder if you are mistaking Jayla Oden (who has transferred to Penn State) for Jada Peebles (who is returning). Oden's shooting percentages were not terrific last year: 3p% = 20% on 1.4 attempts per game (though 35% the previous year); meanwhile, Peebles shot 3p% = 45% on 3.6 attempts per game!!
 
#379      
BRucks
Illinirog70 said:
The Illini need to recruit a lead guard for when Makira is gone after next year. She is such a dominant part of the team that someone needs to be ready to take her place. I'm not sure whether the portal or the high school ranks are the better source (maybe both?)

Speaking of the portal, Did the ladies' team lose anyone to the portal this year?
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Not sure what you mean by 'gone after next year' but I believe that Cook has a covid year that she can (and currently plans) to take. We should have her for two more years. So, too, Bryant and Bostic.
 
#380      
GILL-INOIS
BRucks said:
Not sure what you mean by 'gone after next year' but I believe that Cook has a covid year that she can (and currently plans) to take. We should have her for two more years. So, too, Bryant and Bostic.
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Every Senior but Peebles has an extra year available

Peebles is using it this year

Bostic will be using her extra year in 2024-2025

I went out of town some in the past week or two but unless something changed Cook, Bryant and Ndour have not officially announced anything past next season.

Shauna Green has nailed it like BB in building the program up quicker than expected. We have some real good recruits coming in/setup to come in as well.
 
#381      
ptgrd23
Bollins is real wild card. She was 33rd ranked recruit in HS but missed her JR and SR year in HS with injuries an surgery. She never got on track at Duke 26-7 2nd in ACC which had a very good team. If she is fully recovered look out.

This 2021 video shows her bombing away mid and long range jumpers which is amazing considering she is 6'3" . She is big but did not play much inside in the videos.

www.dukechronicle.com

Film room: Analyzing Duke women's basketball forward Shay Bollin

After an up-and-down 2021-22 season, Duke returns to the hardwood this year with a handful of fresh faces and true grit. In this series, the Blue Zone analyzes the new signees’ film for the 2022-23 season. Finally, let’s look at Shay Bollin.
www.dukechronicle.com www.dukechronicle.com

www.dukechronicle.com

Top-20 recruit Shay Bollin commits to Duke women's basketball

Bollin is Duke's highest-ranked recruit since 2017.
www.dukechronicle.com www.dukechronicle.com
 
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#382      
BRucks
ptgrd23 said:
Bollins is real wild card. She was 33rd ranked recruit in HS but missed her JR and SR year in HS with injuries an surgery. She never got on track at Duke 26-7 2nd in ACC which had a very good team. If she is fully recovered look out.

This 2021 video shows her bombing away mid and long range jumpers which is amazing considering she is 6'3" . She is big but did not play much inside in the videos.

www.dukechronicle.com

Film room: Analyzing Duke women's basketball forward Shay Bollin

After an up-and-down 2021-22 season, Duke returns to the hardwood this year with a handful of fresh faces and true grit. In this series, the Blue Zone analyzes the new signees’ film for the 2022-23 season. Finally, let’s look at Shay Bollin.
www.dukechronicle.com www.dukechronicle.com

www.dukechronicle.com

Top-20 recruit Shay Bollin commits to Duke women's basketball

Bollin is Duke's highest-ranked recruit since 2017.
www.dukechronicle.com www.dukechronicle.com
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Was her lack of playing time this year due to her injuries or due to the older players in front of her?
 
#383      
GILL-INOIS
BRucks said:
Was her lack of playing time this year due to her injuries or due to the older players in front of her?
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Duke rotated a ton of ladies with playing time. It would kind of be like a mix of Camille Jackson this season for the Illini. Ton of potential and "we the fans" are excited to see what Bollin/Jackson/recruits can bring to the table.

Illinois needs size inside and hope Bollin can develop and stay healthy. I would be happy with her having more of a Shoup-Hill role this season with some shots from outside and contribute on the boards/inside on D. Shoup-Hill went from junk time to 25 minutes a game last season and thrown into the mix. She also was in foul trouble a ton of the time. Even if we stay healthy in the post Bollin's size is a huge addition coming off the bench. MacKenzie plays like a bulldog at 5'10, hope we don't have to watch her play the 4 spot on D at random times next season due to lack of depth.
 
#386      
ptgrd23
We got pounded in BTT and NCAA due to our lack of size and our one big played injured (could not even jump).

Coach Green has addressed our lack of size both in transfer portal and HS recruits

Transfers
Bollin (Duke 4 star) 6'3" stretch 4
Hobby (NC State starter) 6'3" center 9 ppg 4 rpg 20 minutes

HS
Wallace 6'1" 4 star F
Smith 6'6" 4 star C
 
#388      
JimILL75
Great interview by Coach Green. Glad to see that she, the players, the program, school all getting positive vibes from other coaches, players and fans. I think that about 25 or 30 of us on here picked up on the WBB early on and you just had that feeling things were going to go well this past year. None of us could have guessed so many players would have their best years, the team would gel so quick and so good. I think that may have been the best part to play together game after game. Role player one game and star the next and they always did it together. Interviews, especially after the game they came through so well spoken, praised each other, the coach. They made the school, state, fans, program and each other sound like we were the best. Not just a few, all of them and every time they had to give an interview.

Sure was fun talking to all of you on the women's forum and thanks Dan for realizing the need for it.
 
#389      
ptgrd23
Big 10 WBB is a beast. Kind of funny that B10 WBB is better than B10 MBB right now.

If the Illini mens team was recruiting as well as Illini women the fan base would be ecstatic.

Its a shame we didn't hire somebody like Shauna Green 15 years ago.
 
#390      
Baskins Tiger
ptgrd23 said:
Big 10 WBB is a beast. Kind of funny that B10 WBB is better than B10 MBB right now.

If the Illini mens team was recruiting as well as Illini women the fan base would be ecstatic.

Its a shame we didn't hire somebody like Shauna Green 15 years ago.
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It is unfortunate that there are fewer pro options for women players, the money is pretty low everywhere for pro wbb, and its pretty much standard that you need to graduate from college to get in the W. So it makes college wbb way older in general. Also a player cannot make up for lack of fundamentals with pure athleticism nearly as easy. So that is why in it's current state college wbb is like 1990 era pro ball without dunks.
 
#391      
WillyG42
hey arnold nicksplat GIF
 
#392      
oldman
All the air has been sucked out of the room by the drama that is the men’s basketball team.
 
#397      
Champaign Toast
ESPN updated recruiting rankings this week.

- 2024 commit Berry Wallace rose a couple spots to #33. Fellow commit Hayven Smith not ranked.

- Class of 2025 has a number of ranked athletes from areas that Green has successfully recruited in the recent past:
#4 Darianna Alexander - Cincinnati
#6 Deniya Paul - Buffalo (Canada side of Niagara)
#7 Madison Francis - Buffalo
#19 Journee Houston - Quad Cities (noted only because Green is a native of the area)
#26 Destiny Lunan - Phoenix
#33 Taliyah Henderson - Tucson
#34 Divine Bourrage - Quad Cities (noted only because Green is a native of the area)
#48 Cearah Parchment - Buffalo (Canada side of Niagara)

- Class of 2026:
#1 Jerzy Robinson - Phoenix

- Add the Illinoisan athletes:
2025 #32 Destiny Jackson - Chicago (unofficial visit noted in the post above)
2026 #6 Trinity Jones - Naperville

Take from the above what you will. Good reasons to get excited about women's bball recruiting from the high school ranks!
 
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