Bleacher ReportKofi Cockburn, C, Illinois
Illinois has been one of the top college basketball programs in the country in recent years, and Kofi Cockburn has been a big reason for that.
The 7-foot Jamaican center was a two-time All-Big Ten selection and a two-time consensus All-American, so his college accolades are impressive.
Cockburn played three seasons for the Fighting Illini, and his junior season was his best. During the 2021-22 campaign, he averaged 20.9 points and 10.6 rebounds in 28 games. He also shot 59.3 percent from the field, a slight drop from his sophomore season (65.4 percent), but impressive nonetheless.
It's hard to imagine the 22-year-old won't be taken at some point during the two-round draft after proving himself against plenty of strong competition in the Big Ten.
Cockburn is the type of player who thrives in a 5-on-5 setting, and he should fare well in the scrimmages this weekend.
2022 NBA Draft Thread
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A monstrous enforcer. I predict he goes undrafted, but he may go in the late 2nd round. I'd be onboard having him here to add a measure of toughness.
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Jalen Williams may realistically be an option at 16 by mid June. Top 5 in in both standing and max vert. 6-4 w/o shoes with a 7-2 wingspan. Even w/o those combine numbers was considered a fairly skilled SG add on now makes him a super high intrigue prospect. Not a small guy either weighed in at 210.
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CP War Hawks wrote:Jalen Williams may realistically be an option at 16 by mid June.
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This is another solid, underrated combo guard who might be available in the 2nd round.
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This kid strikes me as someone who will undoubtedly have success at the next level...but will be under drafted solely due to his advanced age.
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Abysmal.
This dude is going to fall in the draft pretty far. He honestly might want to consider pulling out at this point.
This dude is going to fall in the draft pretty far. He honestly might want to consider pulling out at this point.
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Built like a defensive end, but plays like a shooting guard. I like this guy as a project in the 2nd round:
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Getting him outside the top-20 could be the equivalent of finding a winning lotto ticket in the gutter.
Kid has talent but needs a perfect environment to really grow into an All Star.
Kid has talent but needs a perfect environment to really grow into an All Star.
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ESPN InsiderMurray is the most NBA-ready prospect in the draft and the only college player since 1990 to average at least 23 points on over 60% from 2 and 39% from 3. He also plays one of the most coveted positions in the NBA, with the ability to toggle between a jumbo small forward, modern 4, and small-ball 5, which he did regularly at Iowa thanks to his tremendous instincts (1.9 blocks in 31.5 minutes) and ability to cover ground effortlessly at 6-foot-9.
The fact that Murray can space the floor off the catch (40% from 3) and generate offense as a transition lane-filler, off-ball cutter and offensive rebounder bodes well for his early NBA success. Murray has also shown the ability to improve -- he's a late bloomer who had just one D-I offer out of high school (Western Illinois) before refining his skills in prep school, then boosting his scoring average from 7.2 points per game as a freshman at Iowa to 23.5 as a sophomore.
Murray reminds me in some ways of a forward version of Tyrese Haliburton. Some will question his NBA upside because he doesn't have the type of game that pops in a mixtape, but he has incredible touch, stellar all-around instincts and the type of basketball nervous system that lends itself to success. Murray isn't your typical 21-year-old prospect whom some executives might view as having a high floor, but his ability to consistently improve and stay even-keel in times of turmoil or success gives him a higher upside than his age and simple game might suggest on the surface.
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Wish we had an insider that would give us the workout standouts. I think Schlenk will/should look to add the replacement for Cam in this draft. Beauchamp, Moore, Agbaji, Jalen Williams are long, defend, and hit their jumpers.
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Kevin Chouinard: Tomorrow’s Hawks pre-draft workout: Teddy Allen (New Mexico State) JD Davison (Alabama) Henri Drell (Windy City/G League) Malik Osborne (Florida State) Matteo Spagnolo (Vanoli Cremona, Italy) Davion Warren (Texas Tech)
– via Twitter KLChouinard
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– via Twitter KLChouinard
Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app
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