Big Ten Basketball: Analyzing top 15 players from 2019 recruiting class

5. Kofi Cockburn (Illinois – C)

Coming in at 6’10, 280 pounds, Cockburn is an absolute force from Virginia. He visited Connecticut and received offers from a long list of high major teams, but gave Brad Underwood an impressive top 50 commitment this past April.

With those physical numbers, Cockburn is an intense presence in the paint, already becoming Illinois’ biggest and most impressive big man. His length is impressive and he has solid athleticism. His sheer power down low is going to create matchup nightmares for opposing defenses, something he certainly exploited at the high school level. He’ll need to work on avoiding sloppy fouls and tighten his defensive play, but he’s got the potential to be a lethal rim protector. Rebounding comes naturally for him. There’s plenty of development left with his offensive game, but he could become one of the most powerful big men in the nation in time.

At long last, Illinois basketball might just be turning a corner and Cockburn will play a major role in that future. With aspiring sophomores Ayo Dosunmu and Giorgi Bezhanishvili, this roster is as talented as it’s been in a decade. Expect Cockburn to get solid minutes early on, though his ability to stay out of foul trouble will play a large role in how productive he is this season.