Cockburn interrupted 3 games | Sports

Champaign — Illinois will miss Kofi Cockburn in the first three games of the 2021-22 season.

The Junior Center sold some of Illinois’ gear in the Players Trunk this summer, about a month before the name, image, and portrait legislation was passed in Illinois and was nationally approved. NCAA stopped for these games by NCAA.

Illinois coach Brad Underwood said in a release that “three games were interrupted due to unprecedented factors and a modified timeline related to his decision to eventually withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to school. I’m disappointed. ” “After fully understanding where he was standing on the draft, Coffey made the educated decision to go back to school, get a degree and keep improving the game, though. Understand and respect NCAA’s decisions on this issue and move forward accordingly.

“As always, Coffey’s attitude and outlook remain bright and positive. He is focused on helping his teammates prepare for the season and waits for him to join us again on the court. I can’t cut it. “

It’s a big loss for No. 11 Illinois at the beginning of the season. Cockburn won almost all the praise possible from 2021 to 22. The 7-foot-285-pound center was named the Associated Press Pre-Season All-American, Big Template-Season Player of the Year (twice) and was on the Kareem Abdul Jabber Center of the Year Awards watchlist.

Cockburn won the consensus second team All-American honor last season, averaging 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds in Illinois. Kingston, Jamaica, declared the NBA Draft and decided to return to Illinois for another season in July after entering the transfer portal during the off-season.

Scott Richey is a reporter on college basketball in The News-Gazette.His email is srichey@news-gazette.comYou can follow him on Twitter (@srrichey).

Cockburn interrupted 3 games | Sports

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