CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini women's basketball head coach Shauna Green has announced the addition of Jasmine Brown-Hagger (hag-ger) to the program. Brown-Hagger – a rising sophomore transfer from Mississippi State – has signed a Big Ten Tender of Financial Aid with the University of Illinois and is set to join the program beginning with the 2024-25 season.
Brown-Hagger is a 5-foot-9-inch guard from Shorewood, Illinois. She appeared in 33 games off the bench for the Bulldogs last season while averaging 2.1 points and 1.5 rebounds across 290 minutes of action as a true freshman.
During her season in Starkville, Mississippi, Brown-Hagger and the Mississippi State squad posted a 23-12 overall record, including an 8-8 mark in SEC play. The Bulldogs were a No. 2 seed in the WBIT and advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to top-seeded Penn State in University Park.
Brown-Hagger played her final two seasons of prep ball at Example Academy in Frankfort, Illinois, where she was rated as a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 54 overall prospect, the No. 20 guard, and the No. 1 player from the state of Illinois, according to espnW HoopGurlz. Over the summer of 2023, Brown-Hagger earned an invite to the U18 USA Basketball National Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as one of the top high school players in the country. As a high school senior, Brown filled up the stat sheet for Example Academy with 19.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 3.2 steals per game. Prior to attending Example Academy, Brown starred for two seasons at Joliet Catholic Academy, where she did a little bit of everything, averaging 16.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 2.5 assists per contest.
Head Coach Shauna Green on the addition of Jasmine Brown-Hagger:
"I am so excited to have Jasmine join our family. Jasmine is someone we have known for a long time and who fits our system perfectly. She is an elite defender and someone who thrives in a fast-paced system. She will flourish in our ball-screen offense and our Phoenix transition. We are ecstatic that Jas is coming home!"
Jasmine Brown-Hagger on why she chose Illinois:
"I'm excited to announce that I'm transferring to the University of Illinois! From the moment I stepped on campus, it felt like home thanks to the incredibly warm and welcoming atmosphere. I'm completely aligned with Coach Green's vision and approach, and the staff's passion and dedication match my personal aspirations. I'm also looking forward to the development opportunities available here to elevate my basketball skills further. For me, there's more to basketball than just the game; it's about the relationships we build and the memories we create. Here's to the next chapter, the growth ahead, and the good times as an Illini. I'm coming home! Go Illini!"
