2020-21 Women's Basketball Roster
Jersey Number 0
J-Naya Ephraim
- Position:
- Guard
- Height:
- 5-9
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
- High School:
- Southern Durham (N.C.)
Junior - 2020-21
- Appeared in all 23 games for Illinois, earning 12 starts
- Averaged career bests with 22.5 minutes, 4.3 points and 1.6 assists per game
- Tallied a career-best 11 three-pointers
- Recorded a career-high 11 points at Nebraska (12/10/20)
- Knocked down a career-high two three-pointers in Big Ten Tournament win over Wisconsin (3/9/21)
Sophomore - 2019-20
- Appeared in all 30 games for Illinois, earning 16 starts
- Averaged 17.9 minutes played and 2.9 points per game
- Pulled down 2.5 boards per game and ranked third on the team with 1.6 assists per game
- Scored a season-most 10 points in a win over Austin Peay (Nov. 13), hitting 2-of-2 FGs and connecting on a career-best six free throws
- Notched career-highs with nine rebounds and six assists vs. Merrimack (Dec. 10)
Freshman - 2018-19
- Appeared in 28 games for Illinois, earning four starts on the season
- Averaged 18.7 minutes played and 3.4 points per game
- Grabbed eight rebounds against Alabama A&M (Nov. 7) in her debut in the Orange and Blue
- Had a career performance at Northwestern (Dec. 31), knocking down her first career three-pointer to finish with a career-best 11 points and three steals
- Earned her first-career start in Illinois' road win at No. 12 Minnesota (Jan. 6) and dished a career-best five assists in the game
High School
- Four-time Big Eight All-Conference honoree
- Two-time All-State honoree
- NCBCA 2017 First Team All-District
- 2017 Big Eight Conference Player of the Year
- Participated in the RDU All-Star game
- Represented the Virgin Islands on both the U16 and U17 National Teams
- Four-year member of the A/B Honor Roll
- Chose Illinois over Temple and James Madison
Personal
- Daughter of Rodney Ephraim and Vanessa Richardson-Fieulleteau
- Born January 7, 2000
- Has three siblings, J-Meka, John and Rasidi
- Lists Russell Westbrook as her favorite professional athlete
- Major: Recreation, Sport & Tourism
Illinois Women's Basketball | HC Shauna Green Selection Sunday Availability (3/15/26)
Monday, March 16
Illinois Women's Basketball | HC Shauna Green, B. Wallace, J. Brown-Hagger Presser (3/6/26)
Saturday, March 07
Illinois Women's Basketball | Highlights vs. No. 9/9 Iowa - Big Ten Tournament (3/6/26)
Saturday, March 07
Illinois Women's Basketball | Highlights vs. [7] No. 18/17 Michigan State (3/5/26)
Friday, March 06
