Cockburn came to Illinois as a four-star recruit and continued to improve each year. Dosunmu provides reminders of what scouts seek and how to conduct himself during interactions with franchises and team personnel. 65 player eligible. SIM LOTTERY. Baylor transfer Dain Dainja should help with frontcourt depth for next season as well, and Cockburn's official departure may give Underwood and his staff the green light to go after bigs in the transfer portal. With Greg Popovich seemingly staying another year, who better to help Kofi Cockburn utilize his skills than the man who coached Tim Duncan. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. The Golden Eagles hit a two-pointer with 10 seconds left to send the game to overtime against Southern Missouri State. In his interview, he gushed at the thought of being reunited with. STAT WEAKNESSES. He would likely sign on with a team and play in the G League. I think that Im ready right now to go to the NBA. I realize there are a lot of players who do workouts, but having five teams interested in the big man means they are eyeing him. (((data via nba.com))). "To play in the NBA has been a longtime dream of mine and I truly think it's time for me to take that next step," he said on Twitter. Illinois big man Kofi Cockburn declared for the NBA draft Wednesday morning, giving the Chicago Bulls another option on their big board. The Bulls have the 18th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft . All Rights Reserved. NBA. Following a three-year career at Illinois, center Kofi Cockburn signed his first professional contract with the Utah Jazz early this morning after going undrafted Thursday night. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nba | pageType: stories | Jalen Williams - Santa Clara 6'6" 190 SF jr. 43. NBA 2022 Draft Prospects | Kofi Cockburn | NBA.com 2022 NBA Draft Home Draft Board Prospects Teams All Picks: 1-58 Trade Tracker News Video @NBADraft More Full Draft Board 1. We're going to take a look at the top prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft, assess their strengths and weaknesses, and provide a player comparison for how we see them developing at the next level. In addition to Cockburn, the Hawks also worked out Northern Iowa guard AJ Green, St. Josephs guard Jordan Hall, UConn guard Tyrese Martin, Creighton commit Baylor Scheierman and Arkansas forward Jaylin Williams on Monday. But hes determined to get started, and he believes his game translates to the next level. Still, a 6'7" ball-handler averaging 18.2 points, 8.7 boards and 3.3 assists deserves attention. Carrying a huge burden on the block, Cockburn ranks among the highest volume back to the basket threats at the high-major level in recent history. FINAL - June 23, 2022 at 5:00 pm. The Spurs are an interesting case in the sense that Jakob Poeltl had a solid season, but they need to lay a foundation for their future. These teams should give a look at Kofi Cockburn in the 2022 NBA Draft. While a good portion of it can be due to his size and strength, if we created an exact human clone of Kofi and put him in a basketball game with no prior knowledge of basketball, that clone would not perform well. Using his frame and length well, hes an effective area rebounder and puts a body on opposing big men inside. Kofi Cockburn is one of the most physically imposing players in the sport standing 7-feet tall and weighing almost 300 pounds and made the most of it as a junior at Illinois on the way to All-American honors. Ultimately, this is just a checkpoint as they continue to chase their career -- and some, if not all, will have opportunities either on two-way deals or Exhibit 10 deals to showcase their talents for NBA teams. I figure if these guys are going to shoot, Im going to rebound, he said. May 20, 2022; Chicago, IL, USA; Kofi Cockburn (88) participates in the 2022 NBA Draft Combine at Wintrust Arena. Koloko is one of the best defensive centers playing college basketball. I think that if I leave (school) now I put myself in a great position to be successful for a longer time and be able to get a head start. If you are a fan of Illinois and Kofi Cockburn, this may be a question you have asked yourself. I would venture to say the odds of an Illini player getting picked are low. Contact . Pos Body Fat% Hand Length (Inches) Hand Width (Inches) Heaight W/o shoes Height W/ Shoes Standing Reach Weight (Lbs) Wingspan . https://therookiewire.usatoday.com/2022/05/23/hawks-kofi-cockburn-nba-pre-draft-workout/, Thunder rumored to have given draft promise to Caleb Houstan, Rumor: Trail Blazers looking to trade No. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. The following big board represents the current consensus outlook for the 2022 NBA Draft. Exactly zero mock drafts have Kofi getting picked. He was the only Division I player to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. Liddell and Duane Washington will have the opportunity to impress scouts at the NBA G League Elite Camp this weekend. Using his frame and length well, hes an effective area rebounder and puts a body on opposing big men inside. A very good area rebounder who was nearly unmovable inside, his size is intimidating, but like most players his size, he is much more comfortable guarding on the interior than away from the rim. Yet with a beaming smile and seemingly boundless joy, Cockburn countered with unwavering commitment. (LogOut/ Williams leads the rookie class in steals this season and is 15th among all players in the NBA in that category. NBA players with a similar height and wingspan include, Nikola Vucevic, Damian Jones, Karl-Anthony Towns, Alex Len, Evan Mobley, Steven Adams, and Ivica Zubac. Kofi Cockburn's return to the Illinois basketball lineup turned the tide in a good way for their quest for a conference crown as has Trent Frazier's return after testing the NBA Draft. (LogOut/ Doing a nice job moving bodies before the catch and operating quickly once he got the ball, Cockburn showed the ability to make hooks over both shoulders and use drop steps to initiate contact, but did a lot of scoring off the way he could seal defenders out of plays. He had his best game on Friday with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Massive center who had a stellar season at the collegiate level imposing his will on the interior and cleaning the glass. (((per cleaningtheglass.com))). Doing a nice job moving bodies before the catch and operating quickly once he got the ball, Cockburn showed the ability to make hooks over both shoulders and use drop steps to initiate contact, but did a lot of scoring off the way he could seal defenders out of plays. 12 min read. NEWS. Sign up for the The Rookie Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Kofi Cockburn was one of the best in college basketball a backdown bruiser who won pretty much any [], Top five fits for Kofi Cockburn in the 2022 NBA Draft, CBB Review Courtside Jaz Shelley (Season 3, Episode 1), 2023 Big Sky Tournament Preview & Conference Awards, 2023 America East Tournament Preview & Conference Awards, 2023 Summit League Tournament Preview & Conference Awards, 2023 SoCon Tournament Preview & Conference Awards. A center isnt a pressing need in Chicago, but Nikola Vucevics defensive liability in the paint is noticeable. The Mardini sisters story is shared in Netflixs The Swimmers, Kofi Cockburn agrees to professional contract with Japanese basketball club Niigata Albirex BB, Campus Raising Canes sets late Feb. open date, Orkin labels Champaign 11th-worst Bed Bug City in nation, Notes, player grades from Illinois mens basketballs electric comeback against No. The All-American will be given a chance to prove himself to the NBA this summer with the Jazz reportedly offering the former Illinois big an Exhibit 10 . 9:50 am ET, What UNC must do to secure NCAA tourney bid, Winners, losers: Kansas blown out in finale, Duke vs. North Carolina prediction, spread, live stream, 2023 NCAA Women's Tournament: Conference Tourney dates, Picks for Saturday's top college basketball games, Illini star Cockburn leaving school, turning pro, Winners & Losers: Kansas blown out in season finale, Texas A&M holds off rally from Alabama for key win, Edey highlights Wooden Award finalists, Miller left off, Detroit-Mercy's Davis doesn't catch Maravich, Hey 19: Surging Blue Devils back in top 10, LOOK: Notre Dame's Brey parties with students, Court report: Strange resumes, best turnarounds. Making major progress with his game in the summer before his freshman year, he averaged 13.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game as a true freshman under coach Brad Underwood at Illinois. The 2022 NBA Draft order has been set and the list of eligible players is officially locked in. However, hes been a fun player to watch and four years of Kofi Cockburn at Illinois would be really good for Illinois basketball. How much of Kofi Cockburns dominance is the fact that not many NCAA rosters have the height or weight to contain a specimen like Kofi Cockburn. Many are the rim protector / rim runner types. Im ready whenever you pass it to score it or do whatever I need to do. The 2022 NBA Draft order has been set and the list of eligible players is officially locked in. We break down Illinois C Kofi Cockburn with a scouting report and outlook heading into the 2022 NBA Draft. The roller will stop at the free throw line to become an outlet or safety valve for the ball handler to pass to. Cockburn tested the NBA draft waters in 2020 . Cockburn, a dominant 7-footer, was one of only four players in college hoops last season to average a double-double in points and rebounds, with 20.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. "I'm closing one of the most amazing chapters of my life," Cockburn told ESPN on Wednesday. However, this doesnt mean there was zero interest in 7-foot center. But hes projected to be selected in the second round at best, with multiple mock drafts not forecasting him to be picked at all. You can put me in whatever situation, Cockburn said. Should Cockburn achieve his dream, he most likely will have to follow a similar path to Dosunmu, a second-round pick last year who proved the entire league wrong by crafting a rookie season so encouraging he earned an NBA All-Rookie Second-Team selection. He flirted with Florida State and Kentucky before ultimately deciding to return to Champaign . Odds and lines subject to change. Kofi Cockburn - C - Illinois - NBA Draft Profile and Stats. Always liked Bruce as a coach and as a man. 2022 NBA Draft scouting report for Illinois C Kofi Cockburn, Tennessee Tech forces OT in OVC championship game [VIDEO]. Measured standing 70 in shoes with a powerfully built 293-pound frame and a 74.25 wingspan at the 2022 NBA Draft Combine, Cockburn is one of the largest players in the sport even after shedding some weight over his three collegiate seasons. Its about long-term success, he said. MAIL. THIS MONTH. With a finite amount of picks available, some intriguing prospects just couldn't make the cut and will have to hope they can instead get signed as an . We break down Illinois C Kofi Cockburn with a scouting report and outlook heading into the 2022 NBA Draft. Sharing Your Mock Draft. Think about when the ball handler is double teamed. Kofi is a massive center with the brute force of an offensive lineman. Overall hes not the most natural fit in todays NBA but hes such a powerful presence on the floor that hell find a way to make his mark. NFL. While Kofi may not be able to fill all of it, he certainly could fill a portion of it. With James Wiseman coming off an injury, Kevon Looneys contract expiring, and Draymond Green not getting any younger, the Warriors will need a backup big. 54 in the NBA Draft. By The Ringer Staff Jun 24, 2022, 2:28am EDT. I want to give Kofi credit here. He was the only Division I player to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds and was the only player to rank in the top 20 in each category. Advanced Per 36 Min Per Game. Participant List - 05/11/2022; 2022 NBA Draft: Early Entry List / Draft Ranges - 04/13/2022; Highlights: Illinois' Kofi Cockburn Declares for the 2022 NBA Draft | Big Ten In the NBA Draft Watch on Granted, in the second round teams should be taking riskier picks with high. In putting the NBA on hold last year, Cockburn was considered one of college basketball's most dominant returning bigs and established himself as exactly that. Heres a look at Illinois C Kofi Cockburn. . . Its going to be difficult for him having to defend in space in the NBA against better talent. But in the NBA, there wont always be the short and light defenders. Getty Images/Ringer illustration. Cockburn seems to be embarking on his professional career with the proper attitude one that former college stars could struggle with when jumping to the NBA. Rudy Gobert, Dwight Howard, Clint Capela, DeAndre Jordan, Daniel Gafford all take over 80% of their shots within four feet of the rim. If he could pass out of the short roll(((a short roll is when there is a pick and roll but the roll man doesnt do a full roll to the basket. View all posts by Hoop Informatics, https://craftednba.com/player-traits/length.