CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois Women's Basketball Head Coach Shauna Green has announced the signing of Manuella Alves to the Fighting Illini program. A native of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Alves will join the team next season. Alves made her commitment official by completing a Big Ten Athletics Scholarship Agreement during the National Signing Period.
ALVES' HIGHLIGHTS
- 6'3" forward
- Attending IMG Academy for senior year
- Played junior year at Central Pointe Christian Academy (Kissimmee, Fla.)
- Played 21 games, averaging 7.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game during the 2022-23 season.
- Was not in the United States for freshman or sophomore seasons
- Four-star ranked No. 61 in ESPNW's HoopGurlz rankings
- Ranked a four-star recruit by 247Sports
- Averaged 10.7 points and 8.2 rebounds over six games for Brazil at 2024 FIBA U18 Women's AmeriCup
- Averaged 9.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists over five games at 2023 South American U17 Women's Championship for Brazil
- Recorded 6.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game over seven contests at the 2023 FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup for Brazil
- Averaged 1.0 point and 2.3 rebounds in three games at the 2022 FIBA U18 Women's AmeriCup, where she played with current Illini Lety Vasconcelos for Brazil
- Tallied 1.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game across three outings at the 2022 South American U18 Women's Championship
- Participated in six games for Brazil, averaging 0.5 points and 1.8 rebounds at the 2021 FIBA U16 Women's AmeriCup
- Born Jan. 2, 2006
- Parents are Leonardo and Joana Alves
- One brother, João
- Family Basketball Ties: Father played professionally in Brazil
- Club Team: Essence Girls Basketball Nike Girls EYBL
Alves on why she chose Illinois: "I chose Illinois because I felt it was the right place for me. I know that I'm going to grow as a player and as a person. I want to be great, and I know that Illinois is going to make me great."
Coach Green on Alves: "We are so excited to have Manuella join our family. She's someone that I have watched for the last couple years, and I've loved her since I first saw her. She is a tough, physical post presence who can score with her back to the basket, defend, and is not afraid to get down there and be really, really physical, which I love. She brings that toughness to our game, and to our team. With us graduating Kendall Bostic, we really needed someone that can come in and play four and five for us. Manuella's versatility is something that our whole staff really loves about her game. She can shoot from the outside, she can put it on the floor, she can defend multiple positions, and is another person that we could not be more excited about. We know Manuella will continue to improve once she gets here and with resources and more time on the court, is going to be an impact player in the four/five position for us."
