While the success of the Illini on the court has been remarkable, Shauna Green has also achieved significant wins off the court through her recruiting efforts.
When Green took over, Illinois secured several notable transfers, including Makira Cook and Genesis Bryant, who have played crucial roles over the past two seasons and will contribute again this year as they aim for another successful run.
The regular recruiting process has also seen considerable improvements. Gretchen Dolan is expected to become a standout player for the program once the super seniors graduate, and Illinois is welcoming five-star recruit Berry Wallace this year, who will be a significant asset on the wing—a rarity at Illinois before Green’s arrival.
Additionally, Illinois is actively working on building a strong class for 2025. Although no commitments have been made yet, interest is growing, with Layla Hays recently showcasing the Illini on her radar.
On Saturday night, Hays shared a graphic on social media indicating that she has narrowed her choices to eight programs: Nebraska, Washington, Gonzaga, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, Duke, and Illinois.
NEWS: 2025 four-star recruit Layla Hays has narrowed her list to 8 schools, she tells 336Edits.
• Duke
• Indiana
• North Carolina
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Nebraska
• Gonzaga
• Washington pic.twitter.com/o3H9dAUNSB— 336 Edits (@336Edits) July 27, 2024
Adding Layla Hays to the Illinois roster would be a significant boost, as she is one of the top players in the country. Premier Basketball ranks her as a four-star recruit and the No. 63 player in the class of 2025.
Bringing in a player like Layla Hays would help Illinois transition away from Kendall Bostic more smoothly. With several super seniors, including key backcourt players Cook and Bryant, set to depart after the 2024-25 season, Bostic will also be finishing her final season anchoring the Illini frontcourt.
Last season, Bostic averaged 12.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game, showcasing her dominance in the paint and occasional three-point shooting. Her departure will leave a significant gap.
To address this, Coach Green has focused on adding size to the Illinois roster. The class of 2024 includes 6-foot-6 Hayven Smith, and the team has brought in strong transfer portal additions like Shay Bollin last season and Lety Vasconcelos from Baylor this offseason, standing at 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-7, respectively.
Adding a talented player like Hays, who brings size to the frontcourt, would be invaluable for Illinois. She could play a crucial role in making Illinois one of the most formidable teams in the Big Ten.
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