at the NBA scouting combine in May. 1:46 pm ET. He is not ranked in the CBS Sports Top 60 Big Board for the 2022 NBA Draft. With the 2022 NBA Draft officially in the books and all 58 of this year's selections made, there are many -- many! ENTERTAINMENT. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: collegebasketball | pageType: stories | SPORTS. Kofi Cockburn entered his name in the draft for 2021 and participated in the G League Elite Camp measuring 6'11", 298 pounds, 7.2% body fat, 9'3" standing reach and 7'4" wingspan. And I cant put a price on my dream. Kofi Cockburn does dominate in the paint in college. Overall hes not the most natural fit in todays NBA but hes such a powerful presence on the floor that hell find a way to make his mark. And who knows? He is the author of "100 Things Thunder Fans Should Know And Do Before They Die." Prior to The Oklahoman, Darnell covered the University of Akron men's basketball, preps and recruiting at the Akron Beacon Journal. March Madness is here, which means NBA scouts and executives get a concentrated look at how many of the top prospects perform on an elevated stage. And given the way the game at the NBA level has changed, defending in space may be a real threat to his pro prospects and others of his ilk who play a more traditional back-to-the-basket game as a big. And it was a miss. Making major progress with his game in the summer before his freshman year, he averaged 13.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game as a true freshman under coach Brad Underwood at Illinois. https://therookiewire.usatoday.com/2022/05/23/hawks-kofi-cockburn-nba-pre-draft-workout/, Thunder rumored to have given draft promise to Caleb Houstan, Rumor: Trail Blazers looking to trade No. But now that college players can be paid, Kofi can make a lot of money coming back for a senior season and it may be his best option financially. Cockburn has improved his footwork, utilizes the drop step well, and has nice touch around the rim for a big man. Doing a nice job moving bodies before the catch and operating quickly once he got the ball, Cockburn showed the ability to make hooks over both shoulders and use drop steps to initiate contact, but did a lot of scoring off the way he could seal defenders out of plays. The Houston Rockets win the NBA Draft Lottery and sent the order in our first 2022 NBA Mock Draft. (((I utilized https://craftednba.com/player-traits/length for this information))), As far as weight, only Tacko Fall at 311 pounds would weigh more than Kofi in the NBA. Hard doubling the ball handler, showing a double but then getting back to the roller to slow down the ball handler, playing up near the screen to try to slow down the ball handler as they turn the corner to name a few, or as Kofi must do, drop coverage. How much can he improve his stock in the college game with the difficulty set to easy? You can put me in whatever situation, Cockburn said. You'll find a full breakdown of what players are deciding. This post originally appeared onRookie Wire! Kevin Duckworth+ : 67 Karlo Matkovic: PF - Bosnia - HT: 6 . I dont think that anything should be able to stop me at any time.. Notre Dames Paul Atkinson and Nate Laszewski are both 610 and in the 220s for weight. Off Win Shares. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. 4 seed in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. 4 ranked prospect in his class but . By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Cockburn, a 7-foot center, declared for the draft after his junior season at Illinois. Try a week on us. The 7-footer is not projected to be selected by most mock drafts, but he was among the standouts at the draft combine, averaging 15 points and 12 rebounds in two scrimmage games. 2022 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Predicting all 58 picks, starting off . A two-time consensus All-American, Cockburn proved to be a major presence in the paint during his three seasons in Champaign. Additionally, Cockburns role in putting Illinois basketball back on the map has already ensured that his jersey will hang from the rafters of State Farm Center. The NBA is a whole different level. Age: 18, Freshman. Cockburn fits the mold of an old-school, back-to-the-basket big man. 9:50 am ET, What UNC must do to secure NCAA tourney bid, Winners, losers: Kansas blown out in finale, Duke vs. North Carolina prediction, spread, live stream, 2023 NCAA Women's Tournament: Conference Tourney dates, Picks for Saturday's top college basketball games, Illini star Cockburn leaving school, turning pro, Winners & Losers: Kansas blown out in season finale, Texas A&M holds off rally from Alabama for key win, Edey highlights Wooden Award finalists, Miller left off, Detroit-Mercy's Davis doesn't catch Maravich, Hey 19: Surging Blue Devils back in top 10, LOOK: Notre Dame's Brey parties with students, Court report: Strange resumes, best turnarounds. Thanks for watching and stay tuned for more!I own none of the footage in the video, it is intended for the purposes of critique and education.#koficockburn #. How much can Kofi Cockburn do when we ramp up the difficulty? . Highlights: Illinois' Kofi Cockburn Declares for the 2022 NBA Draft | Big Ten In the NBA Draft Watch on Granted, in the second round teams should be taking riskier picks with high. Apr 20, 2022 Two-time All-American Kofi Cockburn will leave Illinois after three seasons to enter the 2022 NBA Draft, he announced on social media on Wednesday. 1. Kofi Cockburn was one of the top prospects available in the 2022 NBA Draft but at the end of the day no team was interested in him during the draft, but the good news is that he signed. He can finish efficiently at the rim, but can he do that against NBA level size and talent? I figure if these guys are going to shoot, Im going to rebound, he said. Going into last nights draft, most draft analysts and mock drafts had Cockburn going undrafted. Oh and there is this thing in the NBA called defensive three-seconds. But it gives me a relief knowing that, OK, cool, if you got to go get that rebound, you got to make sure that youre doing something to show these guys that you belong on the floor., Going into the league, Ill be a rookie. The big man has everything to work for this summer as he begins his journey through the world of the NBA. The 2022 NBA Draft is over. While not hearing his name called last night was disappointing, it likely gives Cockburn a healthy chip on his shoulder as he heads off to training in Utah. Make Yahoo Your Homepage. Many are the rim protector / rim runner types. Through other aspects of the game, however, Cockburn thinks he can be a contributor. The positive for Illini fans is, you may get him back for a senior season. We're going to take a look at the top prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft, assess their strengths and weaknesses, and provide a player comparison for how we see them developing at the next level. There are a couple of reasons why I think Kofi could potentially get picked in the NBA Draft. He is not the most nimble big man, but has rare strength and a strong motor. The Mardini sisters story is shared in Netflixs The Swimmers, Kofi Cockburn agrees to professional contract with Japanese basketball club Niigata Albirex BB, Campus Raising Canes sets late Feb. open date, Orkin labels Champaign 11th-worst Bed Bug City in nation, Notes, player grades from Illinois mens basketballs electric comeback against No. I think something that is commonly said that Kofi needs to improve is his mid range and outside shooting. But even those mock drafts that go the full 1-58 this season (remember the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls had to forfeit a second-round pick) don't include former Illinois center Kofi Cockburn . That is where I expect Kofi to be selected. Still, despite stardom in college, how high he goes in the draft -- if at all -- is a separate question entirely. Per shotquality.com hes 97th percentile in offensive rebounding, 96th percentile in defensive rebounding, and 92nd percentile in blocks. Cockburn, a 7-foot center, declared for the draft after his junior season at Illinois. While that would help, being able to shoot is better than not being able to shoot. Cockburn, like all college and international basketball players, has until end of day on April 24 to declare for the 2022 NBA draft. Discover something new every day from News, Sports, Finance, Entertainment and more! 2022 NBA Draft scouting report for Illinois C Kofi Cockburn, Tennessee Tech forces OT in OVC championship game [VIDEO]. Im going to have to find my role, playing defense, talking, bringing positive energy and rebounding.. Player Rankings updated 16 days ago | Draft Order updated after every game. Were going to take a look at the top prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft, assess their strengths and weaknesses, and provide a player comparison for how we see them developing at the next level. I dont want it to be misconstrued when reading this next paragraph because Kofi has improved and has feel and touch around the basket. If he could pass out of the short roll(((a short roll is when there is a pick and roll but the roll man doesnt do a full roll to the basket. June 23, 2022. Overall, there was little doubt that the All-American would one day grace the courts of the NBA. He had his best game on Friday with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Cockburn is the fifth of the Illini's top seven scorers from last year set to either transfer, graduate or go pro, joining the likes of Andre Curbelo and Alfonso Plummer. Mid range shooting? How can a basketball player dominate the competition in college, but is no where to be seen on NBA mock drafts? With Greg Popovich seemingly staying another year, who better to help Kofi Cockburn utilize his skills than the man who coached Tim Duncan. PER. We break down Illinois C Kofi Cockburn with a scouting report and outlook heading into the 2022 NBA Draft. Similar to his earlier mock draft at the beginning of June, Givony projects the AP First-Team All-American to land at No. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nba | pageType: stories | Weve seen teams with quality point guards get wide open mid range looks as they come off the screen, lose their defender, and Kofi is far away from the action by the rim. A ferocious rebounder who looks to tear the rim off the backboard any chance he gets as a finisher, Cockburn scored a terrific 1.37 points per shot around the rim in the half court [89th percentile]. He was the only Division I player to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds and was the only player to rank in the top 20 in each category. 2022 NBA Draft Board By MIP Scouting Dec 8, 2021 Our 2022 NBA Draft Board is updated monthly, check back to see where your favorite prospect ranks! His take on the FBI thing is dead. The Pacers are a young team and with them being rumored to be going after guards in free agency, its almost fitting that they draft a backup center to hold down that fort for the time being. Carrying a huge burden on the block, Cockburn ranks among the highest volume back to the basket threats at the high-major level in recent history. His jersey will hang here.. The roller will stop at the free throw line to become an outlet or safety valve for the ball handler to pass to. Kofi Cockburn declares for 2022 NBA Draft: Illinois star big man forgoing remaining eligibility to enter pros Cockburn is putting two toes into his pursuit of a professional career. Measured standing 70 in shoes with a powerfully built 293-pound frame and a 74.25 wingspan at the 2022 NBA Draft Combine, Cockburn is one of the largest players in the sport even after shedding some weight over his three collegiate seasons. MAIL. A ferocious rebounder who looks to tear the rim off the backboard any chance he gets as a finisher, Cockburn scored a terrific. As the first month of 2022 comes to a close, college basketball starts to get really exciting now. 1 pick in next month's. Look for him to rise up draft boards. So much for all those mock drafts. The center averaged 13.3 points and 8.8 rebounds in his freshman season, 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds in his sophomore season and 20.9 points and 10.6 rebounds in his junior season. Im ready whenever you pass it to score it or do whatever I need to do. That gives me kind of a relief. Points. Fifty-eight players will now begin the next chapter in their respective professional careers. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500(VA). The concern is there. Cockburn, who was a consensus All-American, averaged 20.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and one blocked shot in 28 games. Former Illinois center Kofi Cockburn was among the draft-eligible prospects to work out with the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, the team announced. However, there are many centers in the league who cant shoot. Kofi Cockburn was a star for the University of Illinois from 2019 to 2022. I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. Cockburns legacy at Illinois will never be disputed. It has recently hosted several prospects for workouts ahead of the draft combine, including LSU forward Tari Eason and Villanova guard Collin Gillespie. Its about long-term success, he said. It's really not that complicated: The crux of the problem for the Hawkeyes was that Kofi Cockburn was in the building. Right now hes playing a video game on rookie or novice and things come easy to him, but when we up the game difficulty to all-star, does he have the type of game that will translate? "I will be putting my name into the 2022 NBA Draft and signing with an agent.". NHL. Declaring for and withdrawing from the 2020 NBA Draft, Cockburn showed growth in his second year in Champaign. He spent 12 years at The Oklahoman, where he handled the Thunder beat before moving into an editors role. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, Carrying a huge burden on the block, Cockburn ranks among the highest volume back to the basket threats at the high-major level in recent history. I think thats one of my obstacles, proving people wrong. Heres a look at Illinois C Kofi Cockburn. There are certain matchup problems with his lack of mobility defending ball screens. The problem I see for Kofi Cockburn is I dont think he is overly athletic compared to most around the rim centers and that hurts his draft stock. 6-keys: media/spln/nba/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. My goal has been to go to the NBA for a very long time, he said. Team needs are factored into the mock and simulations. However, hes been a fun player to watch and four years of Kofi Cockburn at Illinois would be really good for Illinois basketball. The 2022 NBA Draft order has been set and the list of eligible players is officially locked in. Allowing. Banchero was the No. 7 pick to build around Damian Lillard, Mark Williams posted some eye-popping measurements at the draft combine, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Sharing your Mock Draft is simple. But in the NBA, there wont always be the short and light defenders. The help defenders are more athletic. Banchero exploded for 16 points alone in the third quarter to lead the Magic to a win over the Hornets. The All-American will be given a chance to prove himself to the NBA this summer with the Jazz reportedly offering the former Illinois big an Exhibit 10 contract. Copy the URL of this page to share your draft: /nba/draft/draft_simulator/view . Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. We saw that before with Eric Paschall which arguably came out of nowhere. He was the only Division I player to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. Illinois junior Kofi Cockburn will enter the 2022 NBA draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility. Cockburns size is a factor around the rim defensively even if he does not block a lot of shots. The Pacers have been rumored to be shipping off Myles Turner this offseason leaving them with a sizeable role to fill. A center isnt a pressing need in Chicago, but Nikola Vucevics defensive liability in the paint is noticeable. Carrying a heavy shot creating burden when he was on the floor, Cockburn was the focal point of the Illini offense. Seabron's lack of shooting has kept NBA draft buzz from building. There are many different ball screen coverages for a center. However, this doesnt mean there was zero interest in 7-foot center. This is my greatest concern for Kofi Cockburn in the NBA where a center is constantly defending ball screens. Mizzous big is 67, 240lb. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. If he could defend ball screens and score around the rim, thats an NBA player. An Exhibit 10 contract in the NBA is a one-year, minimum-salary contract that is essentially unguaranteed, allowing for the player to be cut by the team or signed to a larger contract down the line. With a finite amount of picks available, some intriguing prospects just couldn't make the cut and will have to hope they can instead get signed as an . Kofi Cockburn entered his name in the draft for 2021 and participated in the G League Elite Camp measuring 611, 298 pounds, 7.2% body fat, 93 standing reach and 74 wingspan. Always liked Bruce as a coach and as a man. He knows what kind of guy I am, Cockburn said of Dosunmu. Sign up for the The Rookie Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. As hes navigating the NBA circuit this week, Cockburn is going about it selflessly. But a snub is a snub and we must put them on wax to remember those who, despite pre-draft expectations, leave a post-draft world having been excluded from the 58 draft night announcements. (((data via nba.com))). Cockburn is ready for his turn. Defensively, hell struggle with quicker big men whose range extends beyond Cockburns safe space in the paint. DraftKings operates pursuant to an Operating Agreement with iGaming Ontario. With the NBA draft less than a week away, ESPN writer Jonathan Givony released one of his final 2022 NBA mock drafts, which projects Jonathan Davis to go in the top 10 picks. He is a great college player, his game may not translate to the NBA. Looking at the numbers per Synergy, 66th percentile in defending post ups and 78th percentile in defending the roll man in pick and rolls. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports The NBA Draft is. Without NIL, Kofi would be gone, playing in the G League or Europe. This is why you NEED to draft Kofi Cockburn!