By ADAM ZAGORIA
When Kofi Cockburn picked Illinois over schools like UConn, St. John’s, Pittsburgh and Kansas a year ago, it was seen as a major recruiting coup for head coach Brad Underwood and his staff.
Now it appears the 7-foot, 290-pound big man could have a short stay on campus.
The native of Jamaica and former New York City high school star has declared for the NBA Draft, he announced on Instagram.
7-foot, 290 pound Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Illinois center Kofi Cockburn has declared for the 2020 NBA Draft. pic.twitter.com/j14PcbsPY4
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) April 7, 2020
The Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Cockburn averaged 13.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks this past season. He attempted one 3-pointer all season, so is not the prototypical NBA big man of the modern game, but more of an old-school, low-post banger.
“Kofi’s dropped 11-12 pounds, he’s down to 290 since he checked in,” Underwood said earlier this season “He’s dropped 3 percent body fat down to 8 1/2-9 percent now. You combine 7 foot and a 7-6 1/2 wingspan and you’ve got a guy who’s playing himself into great shape and he’s really a physical specimen.”
Underwood said Cockburn, who transferred to Oak Hill from New York power Christ the King before his senior season, has a “tremendous personality.”
“He’s got a very keen sense of what goes on on the basketball court and he knows when to utilize
Illinois also lost wing Alan Griffin when he transferred to Syracuse. Griffin averaged 8.9 points and 4.5 rebounds.
Stat leaders for the 4-game #Illini Italy Tour.
PTS@AyoDos_11 24.0 @alangriffin_ 16.8
Bezhanishvili 14.8@_Trentfrazier1 12.8@TheReal_TJones 12.3
REBS
Griffin 7.5
Bezhanishvili 7.3Illinois freshman Kofi Cockburn of the @NYRhoops is testing the NBA Draft waters pic.twitter.com/6QBMjOj5Nt
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 7, 2020
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