GiGi Battle, a four-star prospect, recently completed her official visit to Illinois and shared that the program exceeded her expectations. Though she had already done extensive research on the Illini women’s basketball team, several aspects of the visit still surprised her.
Battle, who has three additional official visits with high-major programs planned for the fall, didn’t expect anything flashy. She knew Illinois was an improving program and was impressed by how the coaching staff reinforced that message during her visit.
During her two-day stay, Battle toured the campus, observed two practices, and spent an evening with her family at head coach Shauna Green’s home alongside members of the team. It was her first time in Champaign, and she came away impressed.
“What surprised me most were the facilities,” Battle said in a phone interview. “They were beautiful, really well maintained, and the players made great use of them. That stood out to me.”
She also met with Athletic Director Josh Whitman, who shared insights into his decision to hire Coach Green. “He was great. He gave my parents and me a better understanding of the program and why it’s been so successful so quickly,” Battle added.
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