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Fighting Illini All-American Kofi Cockburn Plans to Remain with Illinois MBB

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Basketball

Fighting Illini All-American Kofi Cockburn (Kingston, Jamaica) announced on his social media accounts that he will return to Illinois for the 2021-22 season.

Cockburn is the first center in Illinois history to achieve consensus All-America status, averaging 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds while making 65.4% from the field during his dominant sophomore campaign in 2020-21. He ranked third in the nation with 16 double-doubles and fourth nationally in field goal percentage while leading the NCAA with 78 dunks.

Cockburn helped Illinois to a 24-7 record, including a 16-4 mark in conference play followed by the Big Ten Tournament championship and No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Illini set school records with 19 victories against Big Ten competitors and six wins over top-10 teams. Illinois ended the year at No. 2 in the final AP poll, the second-highest ranking in program history. 

"We are beyond thrilled to have Kofi remain a Fighting Illini and add the nation's top player to our lineup," head coach Brad Underwood said. "Kofi has been thorough during every step of his process, from exploring professional opportunities to making the decision to return to college. He has played a major role in our success the last two years and has more individual and team goals to achieve this season. Kofi will have the chance to expand new aspects of his game while continuing to be a dominant inside force on both ends of the floor."

The Illini now return three starters and six of its top nine players from last year's rotation. Led by Cockburn, who enters his junior season as a national player of the year candidate, Illinois welcomes back 63% of its minutes, 60% of its points, and 69% of its rebounds while adding three standout transfers and a top-25 ranked recruiting class.

KOFI COCKBURN | 2020-21 HIGHLIGHTS

  • NCAA Consensus Second-Team All-American
  • Wooden Award All-American Team
  • Associated Press Second-Team All-American
  • NABC Second-Team All-American
  • USBWA Second-Team All-American
  • Sporting News Second-Team All-American
  • CBS Sports Second-Team All-American
  • USA Today Second-Team All-American
  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Finalist
  • Sports Illustrated Third-Team All-American
  • Big Ten All-Tournament Team
  • First-Team All-Big Ten
  • USBWA All-District V Team
  • No. 7 in kenpom.com National Player of the Year standings
  • Only player in the NCAA to average 15+ points and 9+ rebounds while shooting at least 60%
  • Led the nation with 78 dunks
  • Third nationally with 16 double-doubles
  • Fourth in NCAA in field goal percentage at 65.4% (214-327)
  • Fifth in Big Ten in scoring (17.7 ppg)
  • First in B1G and 24th in NCAA in rebounding (9.5 rpg)