Illinois Basketball: Kofi Cockburn named preseason Big Ten Player of the Year

The preseason accolades keep rolling in for Illinois basketball center, Kofi Cockburn.

Just days ago, the Illini big man was named to the first-team All-American squad. This was a great honor and one many expected. On Wednesday, Kofi earned another prestigious honor. It was announced he has been named the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year.

If you are shocked by this news, then I am not sure what you have been watching for the past couple of years. Kofi returned to the Illini this summer, and from that point on, this honor was his to win.

Kofi continues to rack up national notoriety for the Illinois basketball program.

From the first time Kofi set foot on the State Farm Center floor, he has been a sensation. While there was a learning curve, the big man dominated in his first year with the Illini.

As a freshman, Kofi would end up on the All-Big Ten honorable mention list. His great play would help him land on the All-Freshman Team for the Big Ten, and he would win the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award. This voting was by the Big Ten coaches as well.

Not much would change on the media side except for Kofi actually ended up on the All-Big Ten third team instead of the honorable mention list.

Kofi didn’t slow down with his national honors as a sophomore either. He entered last season with a ton of expectations and lived up to every one of them.

By season’s end, Kofi would be named to the All-Big Ten first team by both the coaches and the media. He was close to Luka Garza in the Big Ten Player of the Year award as well.

Now Kofi can add the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year honor to the list of accolades he has earned while with the Illini. There is no doubt in my mind that Kofi will continue to live up to the expectations. He is one of the most dominant big men in Big Ten history.