The transfer portal season is starting to heat up with the madness of the tournament ending. Illinois has already lost two players to the portal in Hayven Smith and Naomi Benson.
Now, tides have changed with the Illini signing incoming sophomore Divine Bouragge, reported first by Kedric Prince on X and then confirmed by the team on social media on Thursday. The Davenport, Iowa native struggled in her freshman season at LSU, only averaging 2.1 points in 9.9 minutes per game.
Head coach Shauna Green recruited Bouragge in high school a year ago, and Illinois was among her top choices. Ultimately, the former top-10 recruit chose to go South to LSU.
Bouragge also already has a relationship with Illinois’ All-freshman guard, Destiny Jackson. The two played together in high school and in other AAU circuits.
Green now adds another young star to an already loaded Illini roster. If the status quo remains the same, and other young star players such as Berry Wallace, Cearah Parchment, and Maddie Webber stay in Champaign next year, Illinois could be a legit threat — not only in the Big Ten but nationally as well.
The Orange and Blue are fresh off a round of 32 loss in the NCAA tournament and are currently ranked No. 16 in the country on ESPN’s “Way-too-early” rankings for next season.
Could Divine Bourrage be a key piece to bring Illinois to the next level?
