Illinois basketball is in the mix for one of the biggest names in the 2028 class, and that alone says plenty about how far Shauna Green has pushed the program.
Five-star guard Chloe Johnson made an unofficial visit to Champaign this past weekend, giving the Illini another crack at a player who is being chased by some of the sport’s traditional heavyweights. Johnson, a Duluth, Minnesota native, is ranked No. 2 overall in the 2028 SportsCenter NEXT - Super 60 rankings and is viewed by analysts around the country as a generational five-star talent.
Her production backs up the hype. Last season, Johnson averaged 31.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game while starring as a 6-foot combo guard.
The competition is steep. Johnson already holds offers from South Carolina, UConn, USC, Duke, Iowa, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Michigan and Illinois, putting the Illini in a crowded battle for one of the nation’s top prospects.
Still, Illinois has built real recruiting momentum under Green. The Illini finished 22-12 last season and have become a legitimate player for elite talent, with several high-profile recruits making their way to Champaign in recent months. Charis Rainey and Eyani Mills were among those who visited earlier this year, and Johnson’s trip only adds to the growing list of major names checking out the program.
Green has already landed three five-star recruits during her time in Champaign: Berry Wallace, Destiny Jackson and Divine Bourrage. Johnson would take that momentum to another level. She would give Illinois an elite perimeter scorer with the ability to score at all three levels and create for others, the kind of guard who can change the shape of an offense.
A starting spot would not be handed to her immediately, with Jackson, Bourrage and others still working through the back end of their eligibility. But if Johnson eventually lands with Illinois, she would quickly become the centerpiece of the attack once that current core moves on.
Illinois is not the favorite here, not with UConn and South Carolina in the fight. But the fact that the Illini are even in the conversation for a player of Johnson’s caliber is another sign that Green has made Champaign a place top recruits are willing to consider.
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