April 9, 2009
The six future Illini who signed with coach Jolette Law in November recently wrapped up stellar high school careers. Among the accomplishments by the class are two state titles, two state player of the year awards and two All-America selections. The group of Adrienne Godbold, Brianna Jones, Kersten Magrum, Amber Moore, Karisma Penn and Destiny Williams is ranked as high as No. 3 in the country and is expected to make an immediate impact on the Fighting Illini. All six are scheduled to be on campus this summer to begin classes and workouts in preparation for the 2009-10 season.
Here are senior-year updates on next year's freshman class:
Adrienne Godbold // Marshall HS, Chicago, Ill.
2009 Champaign News-Gazette Player of the Year ... Consensus Illinois Class 3A first team All-State selection as a senior, earning honors from the Associated Press, IBCA, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune and Champaign News-Gazette ... Averaged a double-double of 18.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.0 steals per game her senior season ... Explosive athlete helped Marshall to the Illinois Class 3A state championship in 2008 and the state third place crown in 2009.
Brianna Jones // Central Catholic HS, Toledo, Ohio
First team All-District and All-State Division I special mention as a senior ... Averaged 17.6 points per game.
Kersten Magrum // Lincoln Way East HS, Frankfort, Ill.
Consensus Illinois Class 4A All-State selection as a senior, earning first team honors from the Associated Press, IBCA, Chicago Tribune and Champaign News-Gazette and second team honors from the Chicago Sun-Times ... The Herald News Girls Basketball Area Player of the Year in both 2008 and 2009 ... Averaged 23.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as a senior while shooting 58 percent from the field ... Scored a school-record 43 points in regional-title win over Providence, shooting 15-of-17 from the field ... Set Lincoln-Way East career records in both points (1,907) and rebounds (743).
Amber Moore // Country Day HS, Detroit, Mich.
Helped lead Country Day to its second straight Michigan Class B state title with a team-high 13 points in the title game ... 2009 Michigan Class B Player of the Year and Associated Press All-State first team honoree ... Averaged 16.0 points per game and shot 40 percent from three-pointer range, leading Country Day to a 25-1 record as a senior ... Finished fourth in Michigan's Ms. Basketball voting.
Karisma Penn // Shaker Heights HS, Shaker Heights, Ohio
WBCA Honorable Mention All-American ... Associated Press Division I first team All-State selection and named to the Division I All-Ohio team as a senior ... 2009 Lake Erie League Lake Division Co-Player of the Year and first-team honoree ... Averaged 19.9 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 2.9 steals per game, leading Shaker Heights to a 17-7 record as a senior ... Scored over 1,000 points in her high school career despite missing her sophomore season because of an ACL injury.
Destiny Williams // Benton Harbor HS, Benton Harbor, Mich.
McDonald's All-America selection, the first Illinois signee ever to receive the honor ... Also a WBCA high school All-American ... 2008-09 Gatorade Michigan Girls Basketball Player of the Year ... Two-time first team All-State selection by both the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News ... Averaged 29.9 points, 16.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 4.5 blocks as a senior ... Led Benton Harbor to a Class A state championship and 25-2 record as a senior, with a double-double of 31 points and 21 rebounds in the title game.
Check out the November Signing Day Release about the class
