Ad Disclosure
Report: SEC school a ‘serious option’ for Illinois big man Kofi Cockburn
Published:
Kofi Cockburn has already made one decision. On Tuesday, the Illinois center decided to withdraw from the 2021 NBA Draft and return to college for at least one more season.
But Cockburn still has one more decision to make. Will he return to Illinois or will he play somewhere else? According to a report from ESPN’s Draft Express, the first-team All-B1G center is considering one SEC program pretty seriously.
News: Kofi Cockburn will withdraw from the NBA draft (@Andrew__Slater reported first) and explore where to spend his junior season by way of the NCAA transfer portal, he told ESPN. Kentucky is "a serious option," he says. He's setting up college visits now https://t.co/zRkhht9Nne
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) July 6, 2021
Cockburn told ESPN that Kentucky is “a serious option” for the big man, who entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal last week. He can still return to Illinois, if that’s his best option.
Kentucky is an option for Cockburn likely because of the staff changes at Illinois. Former Illini assistants Orlando Antigua and Ron “Chin” Coleman both left Champaign to take jobs on John Calipari’s Wildcats staff. Cockburn would have a connection to the program in Lexington.
There was no timetable on a decision for Cockburn, who was a second-team All-American last season after averaging 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game for the Fighting Illini.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB