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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois Women’s Basketball Head Coach Shauna Green has announced the signing of Naomi Benson to the Fighting Illini program. A native of Streetsboro, Ohio, Benson will join the team next season. Benson made her commitment official by completing a Big Ten Athletics Scholarship Agreement during the National Signing Period.
BENSON’S HIGHLIGHTS
6’2″ forward
Attends Streetsboro High School
Helped high school team to first sectional championship in 36 years as a freshman
Led high school to first league and district titles in program history
Four star ranked No. 98 in ESPNW’s HoopGurlz rankings
First Team All-Ohio, Metro Conference Player of the Year, First Team All-District, Tri-County Underclassman of the Year, Team MVP as a junior in 2023-24
First Team All-Metro Conference, First Team All-District, All-Ohio Special Mention, Tri-County Underclassman of the Year, Team MVP as a sophomore in 2022-23
First Team All-Metro Conference, First Team All-District, Third Team All-Ohio , Tri-County Underclassman of the Year, Team MVP as a freshman in 2021-22
High School Stat Lines:
2023-24: 16.2 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 2.9 APG, 2.7 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 54.0 FG%
2022-23: 15.3 PPG, 14.4 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.3 SPG, 1.9 BPG, 51.0 FG%
2021-22: 14.0 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 1.0 APG, 2.7 SPG, 1.7 BPG, 46.0 FG%
Born Oct. 3, 2006
Parents are Gregory and Candace
Two brothers, Noah and Nehemiah
Family Basketball Ties: Brother Nehemiah plays at Binghamton
Club Team: Sport City Angels EYBL
Benson on why she chose Illinois: “I chose the University of Illinois because when I visited, I fell in love with the university and family feel! I also love that there is a lot of the talent I’m going to be around every day to get better!”
Coach Green on Benson: “Naomi Benson is another great addition to our family. She’s someone that brings so many different things that I love and that we’ve been searching for in our system. Naomi rebounds, she runs the floor at an elite level and brings versatility. It’s similar with a lot of these players we’re signing: They can play multiple positions and guard multiple positions. Naomi can score inside, she can score from outside, she can put the ball on the floor, and I love her ability to rebound. She brings that athleticism, has great bounce to her, and is someone that I’ve been watching since my days back in Dayton with her being an Ohio kid. She’s going to add a lot of different things that we have not had, and I’m super excited about her and her future here at Illinois.”
