Chambana Sun

All three eligible Illinois Class of 2025 signees have been nominated for the McDonald's All American Game, recognizing them among the top high school players in the country. The nominees are Manuella Alves, Naomi Benson, and Destiny Jackson. They are competing for a chance to participate in the prestigious game scheduled for April 1, 2025, at Barclays Center in New York City.

To qualify as nominees, players must have resided in the United States and attended a U.S.-based high school for one calendar year prior to their nomination.

Manuella Alves hails from Brazil and currently plays at IMG Academy in Florida. She is a 6-foot-3 forward and a consensus four-star recruit. Alves is among 29 players from Florida on this esteemed list.

Naomi Benson is a 6-foot-2 forward from Streetsboro, Ohio. Over her first three years of high school, she has averaged a double-double and earned First Team All-District honors three times. In addition, she was named Metro Conference Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season. Benson is one of ten Ohio nominees vying to become a McDonald's All American.

Destiny Jackson will join Illinois from Chicago's Whitney Young High School. A five-star recruit, Jackson is a three-time Chicago Public League champion and First Team All-CPL honoree. As the top-rated prospect in Illinois, she was named to the Naismith Trophy Girl's High School Player of the Year preseason watch list. Jackson is one of ten Illinois players nominated for this honor.

The current Illinois women's basketball team includes six former McDonald's All American nominees: Shay Bollin, Kendall Bostic, Genesis Bryant, Adalia McKenzie, Lety Vasconcelos, and Berry Wallace. Notably, Wallace participated in the 2024 McDonald's All American Games.

A total of 24 girls will be selected as McDonald's All Americans to play on April 1. A selection committee composed of leading basketball experts nationwide will choose these final players based on academic performance and behavior.