Destiny Jackson will only be a freshman this fall, but she is already a steady presence for the Whitney Young girls basketball team — a program that, by last count, had won at least 15 games over the summer without a loss.

Kaleb Carter of Illinois-Basketball spoke with Jackson on Thursday, June 24, after Whitney Young won summer league games against Kenwood and Batavia. Several days later Jackson picked up offers from Ohio State and Illinois after already having an offer from Arizona State.

Destiny Jackson attacks the basket during a June 24 summer league game against Kenwood at Morton College.
Destiny Jackson (Photo: Kaleb Carter)

Illinois-Basketball: How has it been getting acclimated to varsity with your teammates during this summer ball league?

Destiny Jackson: “It’s been great, I really like my teammates. I like how we bond together and we haven’t even had as many practices or games as most people, but I like how things are going so far.”

I-B: What’s nice about the (bench’s production) and depth this summer?

DJ: “It’s definitely nice to have a bench full of people who just come in the game and be what the starting lineup can be.”

I-B: Did you set any goals coming into this summer league, things you wanted to accomplish individually or as a group?

DJ: “Just molding together as a team really. It’s not really individually. I’m a pass-first point guard, so it’s about my team, just molding together as a team.

I-B: Are you all as a team setting goals for the upcoming winter season?

DJ: “Yes, we want to win city and state. Definitely. We want to go undefeated if it’s a possibility.”

I-B: Facing Kenwood is a great chance to test to see where you’re at. Even knowing they’ll still have other players back (a pair of starters that didn’t play Thursday), how nice was it to make a statement like that?

DJ: It was great, Kenwood and Whitney Young have some type of rivalry, so it was great just being able to beat Kenwood the first time we come out. The way we beat them was great.”

I-B: Have you had a chance to attend some college camps?

DJ: “I actually just went to the Louisville camp and they said they loved me. They said they’d reach out to my coach so that’s the only camp I’ve been to so far, but I’m going to go to the Marquette camp and Purdue camp.”

 

Destiny Jackson (Photos: Kaleb Carter)

 

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