Big man Kofi Cockburn left a lasting impression with the Illinois basketball team.
Notching a career that consisted of being the Big Ten Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-American, Kofi was one of the driving forces of Brad Underwood's Illini squads between 2019 and 2021. The Kingston, Jamaica, product became a threat in the paint against any team he faced, with the lethal Ayo Dosunmu manning the perimeter.
Kofi was arguably the best center in the country when he was with Illinois, and now his talents are being taken to the national stage with the Jamaican National Team.
Kofi has had a pretty solid international career as a professional basketball player. Through four seasons overseas, the 26-year-old has yet to average under 17 points in a season. He also averaged a double-double between 2022 and 2024, with his best year being in 2023, when he averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Seoul Samsung Thunders.
This comes after a dominant collegiate career with Illinois, where Kofi averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds in 90 career games. He would end up going undrafted in 2022 after college, but would eventually sign an Exhibit 10 deal with the Utah Jazz. Unfortunately, he was not picked up by another team after his deal ended.
The Jamaican National Team is getting a bruiser in big man Kofi Cockburn
Now, after dominating in Japan and South Korea, Kofi has reportedly committed to taking his talents to his homeland. He will be joining the Jamaican National Team in the FIBA qualifiers, with their first test being against Puerto Rico on Friday.
President of Jamaica Basketball Association, JaBA, Paulton Gordon, is beaming with joy following news that Kofi Cockburn has committed to the national program.
— Nationwide90FM (@NationwideRadio) November 26, 2025
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This is a big deal for the Jamaican National Team. Kofi was one of the best big men in the country during his time in college basketball. He was a dominant force in the paint and created a match-up nightmare for anyone who came across him.
Sure, he didn't make it in the NBA. Sure, his style doesn't fit that of a prototypical 'big' in today's game. But overseas, he has shown he can still be a dominant force in this game. He has continued to be a match-up nightmare in the post, and that dominance will be on full display at the national level.
Hoping for nothing but the best for Kofi in this next stage of his life. There's a lot of big things ahead for the 'big fella.'