Kofi Cockburn in the Portal
https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/1410687082654220290?s=21
Illini would appear to just need the one banner.
I didn't see his name in the latest 2-round mocks. A man of another time.
What?! This does not make sense.
He must hate Brad Underwood.
Join the club
I think it makes sense. Two of Illinois’s assistants are now at UK, Ayo is gone, Kofi isn’t projected to get drafted, and the NIL money he can make at UK is more than he can make at Illinois or with a non-NBA pro contract
Maybe he’s looking for some better NIL options?
Well, NIL does stand for “Not Illinois”
You might be spot on about this!
That's sort of crazy. He's apparently not on the NBA's radar (which seems weird to me - he's not going to be a star but he's absolutely a competent enough player to be on the back end of a rotation on a couple NBA teams) but he'd be a huge get for teams looking to add size and I assume he'll get interest.
The NBA expects bigs to be able to pass and shoot free throws with some level of competence. Cockburn can do neither so he is a pretty limited in terms of NBA potential.
Cockburn’s absolute ceiling is Montrazl Harrell, and that of course would be contingent on a team who wants a limited offensive player to be an “enforcer” of sorts
Harrell is 6’ 7”. Cockburn’s ceiling is at least 5 inches higher.
Wait, which of the Illinois stars made his team worse because defenses could just overplay the black hole? IIRC we lost to them in the regular season because that guy was injured. It wasn’t Cockburn, was it?
Edit: Yup, it’s him. The NBA should want nothing to do with a guy who won’t pass. They have the athletes to deal with him. Many college programs would be instantly made better with him on the roster, though.
Cockburn wasn’t the player who was out against us. It was Ayo Dosunmu.
Shaq says....wuttttttt!!!!
Shaq played in a different era of NBA.
Cockburn can’t stretch the floor, can’t take guys off the dribble, can’t guard people on the perimeter, can’t shoot free throws, can’t pass…He dominated in college when the refs would allow him to be a bull in a china shop and the other team didn’t have the size to stop it…I don’t watch a lot of NBA, but I don’t see his game translating that well to the NBA…
But he's an extremely useful college player.
Los Angeles has 2 centers that are somewhat similar to Cockburn: Zubac for the Clippers and Drummond for the Lakers. The thing is, I think both teams are better when their centers are on the bench.
Wow. Just, wow.
Now, if Hunter stays in the draft, I wonder if Juwan makes that phone call.
There's rumblings he's looking at Kentucky ... tho currently staying in the draft. Has to pull out (phrasing?!?) by July 7th to remain college eligible I believe.
I have to imagine if he went through the process of getting into the transfer portal, he intends to withdraw from the draft.
Dude is a beast. Must not want to endure any more unhinged Brad Underwood.
Rhaatid!!
Caca faat!!
Seems odd unless he’s going to Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, etc
Or to their biggest rival.
He should form a G league super team with Garza
all joking aside, if the G-league teams were conference/geography based, i would prob be tempted to tune into a game featuring a "big ten team of Kofi, Garza etc." versus SEC 1 and dones etc.
I would watch out for Kentucky here.
Didn't half of Illinois staff go to Kentucky?
Two words.........Chin Coleman
Good ol Kentucky who always seems to have endless roster spots available
What a weird career that would be, Illinois to Kentucky.
If he goes to Sparty...................
No, see he doesn't want to play for a coach that is a dick.
It's a shame he doesn't pronounce his name as it is spelled, for "Cockburn To Change Location" might be a better headline....and a rather painful one, I would think.
Holy hell, that's a pretty big star to be transferring. I did not see this coming.
What??!?
Wowww, really thought it was draft or run it back for him.
Whoa... looks like Illinois' run is over... though I do like Curbelo's game. Wish we had him.
Does one year count as a run?
It does when you’re hanging banners.
Round of 32 banners are pretty great I hear…
Careful when Kofi falls in your lap. Your likely to end up with Cockburn.
Very Nice!!
This is very weird. But in an awesome way.
couldn't happen to a more deserving fanbase
I live in Kentucky. This fan base isn’t any better here. During most basketball seasons you get UK, UK, UK and then during football season you get SEC, SEC, SEC. It’s annoying as hell. Most of them can’t name the players on their own teams roster much less talk any other teams.
Live in Kentucky also. By far the worst fan base, really enjoyed last basketball season with them being so bad. Fans have no knowledge of anyone teams outside of Kentucky (and, of course, the SEC chants even though their football team is always bad). I hope Cockburn don’t end up there.
I live across the bridge from Kentucky, and it's hilarious to listen to the UK fans (my wife and mother-in-law amongst them) not knowing anything about the UK roster, yet constantly run their mouths. Lol
Then....football season comes and they either only talk about SEC or they are suddenly Notre Dame fans. ?
Exactly. They also try to root for all of the state schools (except Louisville) in the ncaa tournament as well.
Sat next to some UK fans in Indy back when Michigan played them in the Elite 8 back in 2014. They were some of the nicest, most cordial ppl you would ever meet.