For those who don’t know who fifth-year forward Kendall Bostic is, there is a simple answer — she is one of the best athletes Illinois has seen. She continues to reach new achievements and break old records, and her impact will be felt in the women’s basketball program long after she’s gone.
Winner since day 1
Bostic was raised in Kokomo, Indiana, in a family deeply involved in basketball. Her mother played college basketball at Indiana, while her father competed at Manchester. Bostic has been around great basketball minds outside of her family as well.
Her high school coach was Kathie Layden, known as one of Indiana’s most successful high school coaches. During her time with Layden, Bostic won two state championships. She also earned countless accolades, including AP First-Team All-State honors in her junior and senior years.
Her success in high school led to a No. 65 ranking on ESPN HoopGurlz. Bostic received countless offers from schools nationwide but eventually went north, deciding on Michigan State.
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The best coach
Bostic has played under plenty of great coaches. Layden, Hall of Fame coach Nancy Fahey and her current head coach, Shauna Green. However, none of them compare with the coach who’s been with her at every step: Kevin Bostic, or as Kendall Bostic knows him, Dad.
Her father shares her love of the game, and his passion might rival Bostic’s. According to Bostic, he was a coach and never stopped being a coach. Before every game, her father calls her with a scouting report.
“I always ask him, ‘What’s your take? What do you think? What do you see?’” Bostic said. “And he, God love him, he goes all in with these scouts. He’ll send paragraphs, he’ll send clips and he’ll watch stuff.”
Not only does he share a love for Bostic’s games, but basketball in general. Bostic said that when she’s home for break, they’ll watch random high school games in their community. For Bostic, who never had any personal trainers or private lessons, her father was the biggest contributor to her game.
“I played AAU and worked out with my dad,” Bostic said. “So I credit him (for) where I am today because he got me here.”
Home sweet home
Bostic originally committed to the Spartans to play college ball. She came off the bench in 22 games for Michigan State, averaging 4.2 points per game and 2.9 rebounds per game. However, Bostic didn’t stay long and entered the transfer portal after her freshman year.
The forward landed at Illinois, a school far up her list during her high school recruitment period. She was the lone bright spot on a struggling team in her sophomore season. She earned an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention after averaging 6.7 points per game and 11.4 rebounds per game.
Her first season in Champaign set the tone for her career. She’s earned two Second Team All-Big Ten honors, won the Big Ten Medal of Honor and has consistently been one of the top players in the Big Ten conference throughout her time at Illinois.
She also holds several records at Illinois, including most rebounds in a game, most rebounds in a season and most rebounds per game in a season. She broke the 1,000-point mark, the 1,000-rebound mark and the 100-game mark with Illinois. Bostic has also started every game as an Illini, 103 games and counting.
Along with being one of the best players on the team, Bostic is also one of the longest-tenured. Her four years are beaten out only by senior guard Adalia McKenzie, who committed to the Illini in 2020 and hasn’t looked back since.
Teammates and coaches alike agree that Bostic is one of the toughest players. Because of her size and the position she plays, the 6-foot-2 forward is almost always undersized. She never lets it define her and continues to be one of the best forwards in the Big Ten.
“The undersized has been a thing that’s always brought up, but it’s never been anything that gets in the way,” said fifth-year guard Makira Cook on Bostic. “She just does what she does very well, and she’s herself very well.”
Bostic continues to impress her coach every game.
“For a five-player, I’ve said it: It’s unheard of,” Green said after Bostic was on the court for almost the entire game against Florida State. “You just don’t have a five-player at this level that can play that long.”
Longevity combined with talent makes Bostic one of the best players to ever wear an Illinois uniform. She still has most of the 2024-25 season to make even more history and solidify herself as an all-time great Illinois athlete. Her passion, on and off the court, defines who she is, always doing her absolute best at what she does.
@ben_some16
