Illinois Fighting Illini Center Kofi Cockburn announced, just minutes ago via his Instagram page, his early entry into the 2020 NBA Draft. It is unclear, given the text of the message he posted, whether he is just testing the waters or not. The message says nothing about hiring an agent, which is the determining factor for whether or not he can return to school for his … [Read more...] about Illini Center Kofi Cockburn Announces Entry into NBA Draft
NBA Draft
Stellar Kentucky Wildcats Guard Duo in NBA Draft to Stay
Within the past 24 hours we've seen the top two players, arguably, on the University of Kentucky declare for the NBA Draft in guards Tyrese Maxey and Ashton Hagans. Both backcourt stars are not testing the waters, they're in the draft to stay. And you got to like their chances of not just being drafted, but also making it big in the league given the UK track record in this … [Read more...] about Stellar Kentucky Wildcats Guard Duo in NBA Draft to Stay
John Calipari Gives Conditioning Advice for Quarantine
The new normal for sports media consists of Zoom, Cisco WebEx and teleconferences. Gone are press conferences and locker room access. For athletes doing strength training, the new normal consists of bench press pressing tires, pulling/pushing motor vehicles and jumping on to garbage cans. They've had to say goodbye to the weight room and any kind of training in groups. … [Read more...] about John Calipari Gives Conditioning Advice for Quarantine
John Calipari Gives Updates on Draft Process, Recruiting, More
Zoom, WebEx, Skype- this is our lives as sports reporters for the foreseeable future. It's an adjustment to be sure, but it's still a bit weird. It's what we all have to do though, as every single one of us must mobilize for the greater good. We all miss March Madness of course, but there is absolutely no way the games could have been played under current conditions. In a … [Read more...] about John Calipari Gives Updates on Draft Process, Recruiting, More
Ayo Dosunmu: Future of Illini PG More Uncertain than Ever
With all of college sports shut down now for the time being, a lot of questions persist. When will they restart? How does this effect recruiting and NBA Draft early entry? What will happen with the NBA Draft exploratory process? The Combine? Will there even be a combine or a draft? Illinois sophomore point guard Ayo Dosunmu is someone for whom all these questions definitely … [Read more...] about Ayo Dosunmu: Future of Illini PG More Uncertain than Ever
DePaul Forward Paul Reed Has First Round NBA Draft Stock
DePaul is off to a 12-1 start, and junior forward Paul Reed is one of the leading reasons why. Averaging close to 16 points per game and shooting 56 percent from the field for the season, he's truly upped his game this season. His three years in Chicago have been productive as a whole too as he entered the season among the program's all time in field goal percentage and … [Read more...] about DePaul Forward Paul Reed Has First Round NBA Draft Stock
Evaluating Early Favorites to Become the NBA Draft #1 Overall Pick
At this point of the season, winning actually lies in losing for many NBA teams. True victory comes from tanking, getting the most lottery balls for the draft, and hoping that they can nab the top selection come May and then take whichever prospect is considered the most franchise impactful comes that Thursday night in June. As it stands right now, the Golden State Warriors, … [Read more...] about Evaluating Early Favorites to Become the NBA Draft #1 Overall Pick
John Calipari Pupils Have Earned Over $2.2 Billion in the NBA
John Calipari has succeeded, at an extremely high level, in the National Basketball Association. What an odd sentence to describe a coach whose record in the NBA was an only 72-112, right? Well, it's not what Calipari did while leading the New Jersey Nets (1996-1999) or his stint as a Philadelphia 76ers assistant (2000) that matters in this context. It’s the fact that … [Read more...] about John Calipari Pupils Have Earned Over $2.2 Billion in the NBA
Big Ten Scoring Champ Carsen Edwards: NBA Draft Stock Update
(Editor's note: this Carsen Edwards NBA Draft stock article from the end of the regular season is now being re-posted with the NBA Draft tomorrow night) It won’t be official until tomorrow, but Purdue junior combo guard Carsen Edwards (23.4 points per game entering the regular season finale) will win the Big Ten scoring title. It will make him the third Boilermaker in the last … [Read more...] about Big Ten Scoring Champ Carsen Edwards: NBA Draft Stock Update
Ayo Dosunmu Has High NBA Draft Stock, but it’s Just Not Reflected in Mock Drafts
Illini basketball in the Brad Underwood era has finally shown signs of a pulse in the past month as the team picked up two very high quality wins over teams ranked in the top 15 at the time. Illinois has now won four of their last five, and played their way above the Wednesday night projection in the Big Ten tournament. If the Illini can close out the season 4-3 or better, … [Read more...] about Ayo Dosunmu Has High NBA Draft Stock, but it’s Just Not Reflected in Mock Drafts