Since taking over the program two years ago, Illinois women’s basketball head coach Matt Bollant has taken his recruiting talents to the next level.

Following a poor 2013-14 season, during which the Illini went 2-14 in Big Ten play, Bollant has comprised the pieces to bounce back this year. Seven new players, including veteran transfers, players returning from injuries and a couple high school all-Americans, are set to make an impact right away.

Of those seven fresh faces, the biggest contributions could come from freshman center Chatrice White and junior point guard Kyley Simmons.

“The point and the five are by far the two most important positions on the floor and just those two spots are going to be night and day better,” Bollant said. “Those two have the chance to be our best players as new players coming in.”

White, Bollant’s most-prized recruit, has the opportunity to be a player Bollant can build his program around. The Shelby, Nebraska, native earned McDonald’s All-American honors, becoming the first Nebraska girls basketball player to do so. She is a five-star recruit and was ranked the No. 4 post player and No. 27 overall by ESPN coming out of high school.

Bollant has been recruiting White since her sophomore year at Shelby-Rising City High, and only a few weeks into practice, he has already given her rave reviews.

“She’s everything that we hoped she would be,” Bollant said. “She’s going to demand a lot of attention inside, and she’s a great passer as well. So getting her touches is going to be really important, because she’ll score or find open shooters when she gets touches.”

Adding White will give Illinois another 6-foot-3 body in the post to go along with sophomore Jacqui Grant, who will move to power forward, her natural position. Grant played well her freshman year, but was undersized at the center spot. Bollant said he believes White and Grant are already meshing well together.

“So far they’ve played together every day in practice and they look good together,” Bollant said. “Jacqui is more of a four than a five, so offensively, it’s going to be really easy.”

White seems to be getting along well with another one of her new teammates, Simmons, who also has nothing but positive things to say about the All-American.

“She’s going to be a huge part of our program, and just having that big on the block this year who wants to get hit and who wants to battle down there is going to be great,” Simmons said. “So she’s going to help us out a lot.”

White will provide size and rebounding that the Illini lacked last season. She needs a player capable of getting her the ball down low, though, and that player will be Simmons.

Simmons transferred from Missouri after her sophomore season and had to sit out all of last season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules. After watching her new squad struggle through most of last season, Simmons is ready to be part of the turnaround.

“I think a leader shows by example, and that’s what I feel like I’ve done a really good job with,” Simmons said. “(I’m) just working my rear-end off and getting after it day in and day out and I think that’s where you have to earn respect from your teammates first.”

Simmons started all but five games at point guard during her two seasons at Missouri. She led the Tigers in assists during that span and shot 39 percent from beyond the three-point arc.

Bollant said Simmons has the talent to be one of the best point guards in the Big Ten and one of the best shooters he’s ever coached. But her leadership will be the real key.

“That’s going to be huge to have your point guard on the floor to be your leader, your best player,” Bollant said. “I think she’s going to add a tremendous amount.”

Bollant added that he is confident the additions of White and Simmons will affect a team that already has a good work ethic.

“Our practices last year were intense and our kids gave a lot, but we weren’t talented enough to win,” Bollant said. “So you’ve got to get players; it’s about bringing in the right kids.”

Joey can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter @joeyfigueroa3.