ROSEMONT, Ill. (Chambana Today) — Illinois freshman point guard Destiny Jackson has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the conference announced Monday, following a standout stretch in which she helped lead the Illini to a pair of 20-point victories.
Jackson averaged 11.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 0.5 steals across 56 minutes of action during Illinois’ two-win week. She shot an impressive 53.3% from the field, 60% from beyond the arc, and 80% from the free-throw line.
Her biggest performance came during Field Trip Day at State Farm Center, where Jackson delivered a career-high 18 points along with five assists, four rebounds and a steal in front of the third-largest crowd in Illinois women’s basketball history. She shot 6-for-8 from the floor, including 3-for-4 from deep, in the Illini’s 84–64 win over Murray State.
Jackson followed with five points, five assists and two rebounds in Illinois’ 86–63 road victory at Florida State — the program’s largest road nonconference win since 2018.
The first-year point guard is currently the only freshman in the Big Ten averaging at least 8.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, and one of just seven rookies nationwide to meet those marks, all while committing the fewest turnovers within that group.
The honor marks Jackson’s first Big Ten weekly award. Earlier this season, Illini sophomore Berry Wallace was named to the conference’s Weekly Honor Roll.
