CHAMPAIGN - Fighting Illini women's basketball and head coach Nancy Fahey announced Thursday the signing of three student-athletes to the Illinois women's basketball program. Aaliyah Nye (East Lansing, Michigan), Aaliyah McQueen (Flint, Michigan) and Solape Amusan (Woodbury, Minnesota) will join the Orange and Blue for the 2020-2021 campaign.
"We are extremely excited to welcome these three exceptional young women to our Illini family," Fahey said. "Aaliyah, Aaliyah and Solape add size, speed and another layer of versatility to our roster. Each member of this trio comes to our program with a strong belief in and desire to be a part of the vision we have for the future of the Illini Women's basketball program. They are all extremely talented players and even better young women that will be wonderful assets to our team and community."
AALIYAH NYE | 5-11 | GUARD | EAST LANSING, MICH. | EAST LANSING HS
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
-2019 Division 1 First Team All-State honoree
-Helped East Lansing High School to a Class A state runner-up finish in 2018
-Made 54 three-pointers in her junior season and has reached the 1,000 point scoring mark in her career
-Netted six treys in her high school state championship game, marking the second-most for a player in championship history
-Detroit Free Press, Lansing State Journal and Detroit News Dream Team honoree
-2020 Ms. Basketball Candidate
-a proud tribal citizen of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians (Gun Lake Tribe)
Why Illinois: "I chose Illinois because I really felt welcome when I visited and enjoyed my time there. I feel I can help build the basketball program and be a part of something amazing. Illinois will help me develop into the basketball player and person I want to be. Academically, my chosen major of engineering is ranked as one of the best in the country. The opportunities they have for student-athletes are some of the best at any university. I can't wait to grow both on and off the court at Illinois!"
Fahey's Take: "Aaliyah Nye is a big guard with great shooting range, a deceptive ability to create off the bounce and the tenacity to rebound from the wing. Aaliyah is a motivated and driven player that is constantly in the gym working on her game, she will be a great asset to our team. We are so excited Aaliyah chose Illinois and are thrilled to add her to our Fighting Illini family."
AALIYAH MCQUEEN | 5-9 | GUARD | FLINT MICH. | CARMAN-AINSWORTH HS
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
-2019 MLive-Flint Journal Dream Team honoree
-Earned 2019 All-Saginaw Valley South first team recognition
-Averaged 15.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game last season
-Is the No. 22-ranked wing in the class of 2020 according to Prospects Nation
Why Illinois: "I chose Illinois because of the warm feeling of love I felt in my heart after my visit. I felt like I could make a difference in the program and they could make a difference in my life. Academically, Illinois is a great place to expand your knowledge and help you achieve your career goals later on in life."
Fahey's Take: "Aaliyah McQueen is an athletic and gritty guard from Michigan, she is a fierce competitor with a great work ethic. Aaliyah is a multi-dimensional player who can knock down the three, create her own shot and opportunities for her teammates; her level of toughness, athleticism and strength will mesh well with our current roster. We are extremely excited about Aaliyah's future with the Illini women's basketball Program."
SOLAPE AMUSAN | 6-1 | FORWARD | WOODBURY, MINNESOTA. | WOODBURY HS | IOWA WESTERN
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
-Averaged 12.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game in her senior season at Woodbury
-Two-time Suburban East All-Conference honoree
-Was ranked among the top 100 players in the class of 2019 by Prep Girls Hoops
-Played for the Minnesota Fury for two seasons
Why Illinois: "I chose Illinois because when I took my visit, the love I was shown was genuine from everybody I came across; it was love at first sight, because everything felt right and I just knew this was home. I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself. My favorite quote is, 'when you commit to something bigger than yourself, you rise to a level much higher than yourself.' As the program is rebuilding, I believe this is somewhere I can make an impact and grow my game. Academically, a degree from Illinois holds a lot of value, so the opportunities here are limitless. This is the place that will push me to rise to a higher level on and off the court. I can't wait to see what the future holds!"
Fahey's Take: "Solape is an exciting and much needed addition to our 2020 roster. She is a long four-player who has the ability offensively to both stretch the floor with her capacity to shoot the three, and cause to defensive mismatches with her ability to put the ball on the floor. Defensively, her athleticism and length allow her to guard multiple positions both on the perimeter and in the paint. Solape's composure, maturity and competitive nature make her a natural fit for our Illini program and family."
