Illinois Basketball Star In Top 15 of NBA Draft Board

Illinois Basketball Star In Top 15 of NBA Draft Board

The 2024 NBA Draft is approximately 7 weeks from today. Illinois Basketball is hoping to have two of their star players hear their names announced on draft night. Though Coleman Hawkins still has some decisions to make, Terrence Shannon Jr will almost certainly hear his name called at some point. If all signs continue to point the way that they are, Shannon Jr will be the first Illinois Basketball first-round draft pick since Meyers Leonard in 2012. Shannon Jr was one of the best players in College basketball and should be a first-round draft pick.

Jonathan Wasserman, NBA Draft insider for Bleacher Report, had Terrence Shannon Jr ranked as the 14th-ranked overall prospect in the draft.

Possibilities?

The teams that are picking in that range are the Portland Trailblazers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, and the New Orleans Pelicans. One intriguing storyline would be for the Chicago Bulls to select Shannon Jr with the number 11th pick. This would mean that Shannon Jr would be staying home to start his NBA career like fellow Illini alum, Ayo Dosunmu. Dosunmu just completed his third year with the hometown Chicago Bulls and had a breakout ending to the season. Ayo Dosunmu played consistent starter minutes and showed a major improvement in his game. He established himself as a major building block for the franchise.

Shannon Jr is also still undergoing his legal process. Per reports, He has a preliminary hearing on May 10th at 9 am.