There is a reason why Destiny Jackson was a five-star recruit out of high school, and she showed that in year one with the Illinois basketball program.
Jackson, a product of Whitney Young High School in Chicago, quickly became Shauna Green’s go-to guard for the Illini during the 2025-26 season. As soon as she stepped foot onto campus, she was handed the reins to the team and ended up delivering in a big way.
Jackson was a key contributor in Illinois’ offense last season, setting the program’s single-season assist record and the all-time freshman assist record. Jackson became the perfect facilitator for Illinois’ offense, exhibiting great speed and handling as a pure point guard.
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But as we move forward in Jackson’s career, what are some major predictions that we should expect after a stellar freshman campaign?
Jackson’s destiny is to continue to drop dimes at an elite rate
Last season, Jackson dominated on the offensive side of the court, ranking No. 29 in the country with 5.2 assists per game. She had a keen eye for finding the open lane and creating shots for the players around her.
This upcoming season, we should expect nothing less from the young guard. With over 90% of Illinois’ roster returning from last season, and an elite scorer in Divine Bourrage transferring in, Jackson is going to have plenty of opportunities to distribute the ball.
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Destiny Jackson should be on the All-Defense and All-Big Ten watch lists
Jackson has proven herself on both ends of the floor, locking down opposing guards with great efficiency while dominating on the other end of the floor. She has become a premier name in the Big Ten and should certainly be on the watch list for every major postseason honor.
As one of the top perimeter defenders in the Big Ten, Jackson has the speed and the athleticism to keep up with some of the top guards and wings in the country. Not only that, the motor that she brings on offense makes her a game-changer at any point in a contest.
Granted, an All-Big Ten first or second team honor may not be in the cards for her quite yet, but it would be shocking if she doesn’t make the third team or the All-Defensive unit next season.
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Big things are ahead for Jackson, and I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next season.
This article was originally published on www.writingillini.com as Two major predictions for Illinois basketball point guard Destiny Jackson in 2026-27.
