Illinois Basketball: Projected Illini lineup without Kofi Cockburn

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CHAMPAIGN, IL – JANUARY 30: Illinois Fighting Illini forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili (15) flexes after a play during the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 30, 2020, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

No. 5 Center/Forward

Starter: Giorgi Bezhanishvili

This is where the departure of Kofi Cockburn will hurt the Illinois basketball team the most. Who will start at the No. 5 Spot? I have Giorgi Bezhanishvili taking the reins at this position. Giorgi has played the most time at the No. 5 spot, considering he started there as a freshman. I think starting him at the No. 5 again would be best for the team.

Giorgi didn’t have a good sophomore campaign. I think a lot of it had to do with chemistry with Kofi, but the touch Giorgi once had left him completely. He still managed to average 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, though. I am curious how he would do starting once again at the No. 5.

Backup: Coleman Hawkins

I contemplated putting Coleman Hawkins as the starting No. 5, but I think the kid is too new and needs to learn the pace and the strength of the college game. He is a great addition to this team, though.

Hawkins was the No. 156 player in the class of 2020 and the No. 34 power forward in the nation. He isn’t going to out physical you necessarily, but he has the ability to stretch the floor and become a mismatch nightmare. I look forward to seeing what he can do off the bench.

Backup: Jermaine Hamlin

The final piece to the puzzle would be Jermaine Hamlin. This kid was going to go to a prep year of high school before coming into the DI ranks, but Illinois wanted him as a backup big man. He came into the program and didn’t disappoint.

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Hamlin had a chance to play in 16 games for the Illini, mostly when Kofi was in foul trouble. During the time he saw on the court, he averaged 0.9 points and 0.8 rebounds per game. He wasn’t asked to do much, but he was a big body when we needed one. I think Hamlin will always have a place on this team.

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