Top 2025 recruit Destiny Jackson commits to Illinois

Destiny Jackson, one of the top recruits in the Class of 2025, has committed to Illinois, she told On3. The 5-foot-6 point guard recently took a visit to Champaign and knew it was the place for her. 

Jackson, a Chicago native from Whitney Young High School, was deciding between Arizona, Baylor, North Carolina, West Virginia and the Fighting Illini. 

But Jackson decided to stay with her home-state squad – Illinois. 

“It was the best decision for me,” Jackson told On3. “I’ll be walking into a situation where their point guards are grad students. So I’ll be walking into a spot where they’ll develop me because I’m going to be their point guard. I went there and I fell in love with the school.”

There were plenty of factors that played into Jackson’s decision, but the relationship she built with the coaching staff at Illinois was one of the main reasons Jackson committed. They’ve been consistent throughout her recruitment process and showed her a culture that she wants to be a part of in college. 

“They’ve been recruiting me the longest and my relationship with them is really good. That coaching staff gave me an offer as soon as they took over there. Ever since, she’s been consistently talking to my parents, my coaches, and my godparents. Being there, they have a family thing going and the culture there is really amazing. It’s somewhere I can definitely see myself thriving.” 

Jackson is entering her senior year of high school, but she’s itching to get on campus to start her college career. 

“I’m excited to get there and start working,” Jackson said. “Their system fits me. They let their guards be guards…They’re going to develop me into the best player they possibly can. They’re going to be on me a lot, but that’s because they care.”