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Illinois Basketball: Illini C Kofi Cockburn invited to NBA G-League camp

By Rees Woodcock

Feb 16, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) is introduced prior to a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 16, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn (21) is introduced prior to a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The starting center for the Illinois basketball team the past two seasons, Kofi Cockburn, is starting to go through some of the pre-NBA Draft procedures in hopes of becoming a draft pick.

On Monday, the NBA G-League released a list of the 40 prospects to attend the 2021 NBA G-League Elite Camp. Kofi was the lone Illini player on the list. This camp will take place June 19-21, according to the release.

What does this mean for Illinois basketball fans?

There are a lot of Illini fans who still think Kofi might come back for another season. He still hasn’t hired an agent from what I can see, so there is still a chance that he does come back.

The 2021 NBA G-League Elite Camp doesn’t mean Kofi is a sure-fire lock to stay in the NBA Draft. This camp is just to evaluate the fringe NBA Draft talent.


If you notice who is in the camp, the vast majority of the players aren’t projected to be picked in the upcoming draft. If players like Kofi go to this camp and get evaluated and don’t like what they hear, they can withdraw their names from the draft process.

Players have until July 7 to withdraw their name and retain college eligibility for the upcoming season. So, that is the date to keep in mind.

Kofi could get evaluated and the results could come back that he is a draft pick type of player. This would likely get him to stay in the draft. The results could come back that he needs to hone his skills more at the college level. So, he might stay. But there is one more scenario I see that could realistically happen.

I could see Kofi getting feedback that he might not get drafted but it would be best for him to stay in the draft anyways. This would enable him to go to the G-League and start developing his professional game against professional type of players.

Next. Illini recruiting big board for 2022 as of June 14. dark

I firmly believe if there were three rounds in the NBA Draft, Kofi would get picked by a team. My prediction is, the big man will keep his name in the draft, won’t get picked and will start his career developing in the G-League. I see that as a realistic and smart way to go about his career.

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