‘I am 100 per cent in now’
Published:Friday | April 22, 2022 | 12:08 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
There will be no college return this year for Jamaican basketballer Kofi Cockburn.
After three seasons at the University of Illinois, Cockburn 20, declared for the 2022 NBA draft on Wednesday, forgoing his final year of college eligibility and hiring an agent. Cockburn had previously declared for the 2020 and 2021 drafts but had opted out to return to school both times.
However, there will be no turning back for Cockburn this time as per league rules, he cannot withdraw his name from consideration for a third time. It is a move that Cockburn said in an ESPN interview on Wednesday that he was more than ready for.
“I’m 100 per cent in now,” Cockburn said. “I’m not going back to college. I’m signing with agent Todd Ramasar. I’ve tested the waters enough. I’m 100 per cent dedicated to going all the way.”
Cockburn’s decision comes after a season where he was named first-team All American, averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game this season. His performances helped Illinois to a 23-10 record and a share of the Big Ten regular-season title with Wisconsin, the first time the school has won a regular-season title since 2005.
The purpose of Cockburn’s return to college this season was to improve elements of his game that would improve his draft stock. After three years, Cockburn said that he is eager to answer the critics of his ability to transition to the NBA.
“I’m closing one of the most amazing chapters of my life. I’m proud of what we accomplished in college, but I am not sure it can get much better than that. It’s a scary challenge now, and I’m excited to rise to the occasion and try and prove people wrong,” Cockburn said.
Throughout his three years at Illinois, Cockburn has averaged 17.2 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per game and was a finalist for several individual player awards, including the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award given to the best centre in the country. Additionally, his 341 points scored with his back to the basket ranked second in college basketball according to Synergy Sports Technology. He helped Illinois to qualify for back-to-back NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournaments, however, they were eliminated in the round of 32 both times last year and this year.
Cockburn’s announcement means that he joins Jamaican international player Josh Minott as the country’s representatives in the draft, which is scheduled for June 23 in Brooklyn, New York. Before then, they will be evaluated at the NBA combine, which is slated for May 16-22 in Chicago.
Jamaica College and University of Kentucky past student Nick Richards is the only Jamaican player currently in the NBA, plying his trade with the Charlotte Hornets. He is now with the Hornets’ G-League affiliate Greensboro Swarm.