Illini WBB Notebook: Freshman Berry Wallace Shines; Shoup-Hill Focused on Senior Year
ROSEMONT, Ill. — Although new to campus, five-star freshman Berry Wallace has adjusted quickly to college life and Illini basketball. Highly recruited and a McDonald’s All-American, Wallace brings a steady presence to the court, showing versatility and skill beyond her years. Her contributions aren’t flashy but consistently impactful across the stat sheet. Head Coach Shauna Green praises Wallace for her maturity, saying, “You usually know when there’s a freshman out there. With Berry, most days, she doesn’t look like one. She’s steady, consistent, and has picked things up fast.”
Wallace, ranked No. 20 in her class by ESPN HoopGurlz, will split time between wing and forward positions. She averaged 8.5 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist during a two-game foreign tour over the summer. Teammates Makira Cook and Adalia McKenzie noted her work ethic and versatility, with McKenzie adding, “She’s not flashy but does the little things well. She can shoot, drive, and do everything we need.”
Shoup-Hill Focused on Senior Success
After an up-and-down junior year, senior Brynn Shoup-Hill is determined to make her last season her best. Last season, a wrist injury limited her time and impacted her game. Coach Green is optimistic, saying, “I see the most confident Brynn I’ve ever seen. She’s locked in, enjoying her last season, and determined to leave it all on the court.” Shoup-Hill is expected to play key minutes, contributing especially with her 3-point shooting, which she improved during the summer trip, averaging 10 points and 8 rebounds per game.
Defense-First Mindset for Brown-Haggar and McKenzie
New transfer Jasmine Brown-Haggar, known for her defensive skills, joins the Illini backcourt and has bonded with McKenzie over their shared defensive intensity. Brown-Haggar, who initially chose Mississippi State over Illinois, adds a tough, defense-oriented approach that has already set a high standard in practice. Coach Green envisions her as a defensive stopper, adding to a backcourt that also features Cook and McKenzie.
McKenzie, who embraced a defense-first mentality under Green’s coaching, has become a standout defender. “Defense is a mindset,” McKenzie explained. “If guarding the best player helps us win, that’s what I want to do.” Last season, McKenzie excelled defensively, particularly during the WBIT championship, holding opponents to low shooting percentages. Looking back, she says her high school self might have been surprised by her defensive transformation, noting, “Coach Green LOVES defense. I’ve embraced that mindset, and it’s been good for me.”
Berry Wallace
Green’s Upcoming Return to Canisius
The Illini are set to play Canisius on Dec. 2, a special game for Coach Green, an alumna and Hall of Famer at the school. Although excited to revisit her college gym, Green says she isn’t particularly sentimental: “I’m not an emotional person, so probably nothing. It will be cool, though.”
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