Bryant Selected for BTN Experience

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini women’s basketball’s Genesis Bryant has been selected to participate in the 2025 BTN Experience. The Jonesboro, Georgia, native is one of 16 former Big Ten student-athletes chosen for the seminar, which will take place from June 23-26 at the Big Ten Network Studios in Chicago.

The BTN Experience is a seminar, hosted by Big Ten Network, designed for former Big Ten student-athletes who are interested in pursuing sports media opportunities in the areas of studio analyst, game commentator, and/or social media personality. Big Ten Network executives, producers, and talent will lead the experience and provide individualized feedback. Participants will receive a video reel of their work upon completion of the seminar. All participants will gain experience in studio analysis, live game analysis, digital & social content, as well as interviewing.

Bryant is no stranger to the broadcasting side of the sport, as she has gained experience and networked heavily across her last two seasons as a student-athlete. She was the color analyst for two regular-season Illinois men’s basketball games that aired on B1G+, carried out play-by-play and sideline roles across wheelchair basketball and softball, served as a social media correspondent at the B1G Women’s Basketball Media Days, and hosted the 2025 Oskees – Illinois’ annual student-athlete banquet.

Bryant will earn her master’s degree in management from Illinois’ Gies College of Business in August 2025. She also earned her undergraduate degree in communication from Illinois in May 2024. Bryant was honored by College Sports Communicators (CSC) as an Academic All-District selection in both 2024 and 2025. The Jonesboro, Georgia, native was a two-time Winter Academic All-Big Ten honoree and earned a spot on Illinois’ Dean’s List.

A four-time Second Team All-Big Ten selection across the coaches and media polls, Bryant earned a spot on the 2024-25 Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard Watch List and was a 2023-24 WBIT All-Tournament Team selection. Across her time at Illinois, Bryant was a three-time Big Ten Player of the Week on top of earning ESPN Player of the Week honors (1/2/23) and being named to the NCAA Weekly Starting Five (1/4/23).

During her three seasons with the Orange and Blue, Bryant scored 1,430 points while tallying 345 assists, 281 rebounds, and 107 steals in 97 games with 85 starts. In just her second collegiate start, Bryant turned in the third triple-double in Illinois program history, tallying 20 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds on Dec. 21, 2022.

In 2024-25, Bryant led the Big Ten in free throw percentage and ranked 12th in the NCAA. Her mark of 89.3% (142-of-159) set Illinois’ single-season free throw percentage record.

Bryant left her name all over the Illinois record book. Most notably, she walks away holding the program’s career free throw percentage record – a mark of 87.7% on 313-for-357 shooting. Bryant finished at No. 3 on Illinois’ career 3-pointers made list with 207 makes in just three seasons. She ended at No. 4 on the Illini’s career 3-point percentage list, shooting 38.1% (207-for-543) from beyond the arc. Bryant also finished seventh on the program’s career assists list with 345 helpers and in 15th place on the career scoring list, registering 1,430 points.

Bryant helped the Fighting Illini to the program’s first-ever postseason championship with the 2024 WBIT title and two NCAA Tournament bids (2023, 2025), including a Second Round appearance.

2025 BTN Experience Participants

Dara Andringa – Wisconsin – Soccer
Solag Bakich – Notre Dame – Ice Hockey
Ainsley Blue – Ohio State – Rowing
Genesis Bryant – Illinois – Basketball
Su’a Cravens – USC – Football
Mya Hooten – Minnesota – Gymnastics
Emma Malabuylo – UCLA – Gymnastics
Verone McKinley III – Oregon – Football
Sharlize Palacios – UCLA – Softball
Sydney Parrish – Indiana – Basketball
Haley Polk – Michigan – Lacrosse
Alana Richardson – Michigan – Field Hockey
Simone Roberts – Michigan – Track & Field
Devyn Robinson – Wisconsin – Volleyball
Tre Watson – Maryland – Football
Cami Wilson – Oregon – Acro & Tumbling