Illinois Basketball: Waiting to sign makes sense for Illini commit Kofi Cockburn
The class of 2019 is a pretty special one for the Illinois basketball team and the future of the program.
There are three players currently signed up to play for the Illini next season. Bernard Kouma was the most recent commitment back on April 8. He is a 6-foot-10, 200-pound forward who will give the Illini some solid depth at the No. 4 spot.
Antwan January was the first commitment in this class for Brad Underwood. He is a 6-foot-11, 240-pound big man who is going to be a solid piece at the No. 5 spot. I look for January to make an impact for the Orange and Blue in year one.
The third, and arguably the biggest, piece to the Illinois class of 2019 is Kofi Cockburn. He is a 6-foot-10, 280-pound center from Oak Hill Academy. This kid is a top 50 player and someone who is going to stabilize the middle for the Illini. Getting him to commit was one of the biggest recruiting accomplishments thus far for Underwood and his coaching staff. But, it looks like we are going to wait a little longer than expected for Cockburn to put pen to paper.
Bret Beherns of WCIA reported on Tuesday that Cockburn is not going to sign his National Letter of Intent on Wednesday. The regular NLI signing period starts on Wednesday, April 17 and goes through May 15. This is when players, usually, sign with their respective programs.
Kofi Cockburn told me he will NOT sign his NLI tomorrow on the first day of the period. He wants to wait until his mom gets here later in the week, says likely on Friday but not sure. He said there’s no need for #Illini Nation to worry, he’s 100% in, just wants his mom here
— Bret Beherns (@WCIA3Bret) April 16, 2019
Beherns continues on in the tweet about Cockburn saying that the decision not to sign on Wednesday is that his mom isn’t with him right now. His mom will get into town later in the week, and he will, likely, sign on Friday but isn’t completely sure yet. Beherns also mentions in the tweet that Cockburn says for Illini Nation not to worry, that he is 100-percent in.
If you are worrying at all about Cockburn not coming to Champaign, you should probably calm down. I don’t think there is anything to worry about as Cockburn said. He is going to sign on the line but wants his mom there. I respect this decision greatly.
For a lot of people in life and in sports, there isn’t much of a support system. A support system is a group of people you trust, who you can go to in a time of need or uplifting, which will always be by your side. A part of Cockburn’s support system is, clearly, his mom. He wants that support system by his side through the process. I appreciate what he is doing and the way he is going about doing it.
Next. Projected Illini WR depth chart with Trevon Sidney. dark
I can’t wait for Cockburn to join the Illini. This kid is going to improve the team tremendously. It is just going to be an extra few days before we can make it official.