Chambana Sun

Fighting Illini women's basketball signee Destiny Jackson has been honored as the 2025 Illinois Ms. Basketball, as announced by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association on April 4.

Jackson, who played for Whitney Young Magnet High School and the Example Sports GUAA club, is a five-star guard from Chicago. She also earned a spot on the Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Girl's High School Player of the Year Preseason Watch List.

During her senior year, Jackson averaged 21.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.8 steals per game, leading her team to a 25-9 record and a Class 4A sectional championship game appearance. Jackson is a three-time First Team All-State selection and was nominated for the McDonald's All American Game. Over her high school career, she accumulated 17.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 3.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game, with overall totals of 2,204 points, 752 rebounds, 445 assists, and 408 steals.

Jackson is part of a strong recruiting class that is ranked seventh by espnW and includes five Fighting Illini signees. She joins Tauja Catchings as the only Fighting Illini women's basketball players to be named both Illinois Ms. Basketball and Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year. Catchings received these honors in 1996 and later played for Illinois from 1997 to 2000.