NCAA Basketball: Biggest winners from 2020 extended NBA Draft deadline
2. Illinois
No team entered the offseason with a wider range of outcomes than Illinois. Last year, Brad Underwood’s squad was on pace to make their first NCAA Tournament since 2012-2013. A departure from Ayo Dosunmu was expected, but when Kofi Cockburn then entered his name into the draft it appeared Illinois would go from a potential loaded roster to a bubble team. But on Friday night, he posted a video on Twitter signifying his return to Champaign. The next day, Cockburn too announced his return, and the Illini have their best roster since 2005.
Dosunmu’s decision was one of the more interesting “stay or go” decisions. He had a very productive year, despite poor shooting numbers but his stock was in flux. He was put in mock drafts anywhere from 45 to undrafted. He had also received an NBA combine invite, putting him in roughly the top 60. To most it appeared, Dosunmu would leave. But he has his eyes set on contending for a Final Four.
Cockburn seemed like a fairly obvious choice to return. He was barely in any top 100’s, although he was on the list of 2014 potential combine invitees. However, after spending some time in his native New York area Illini nation was concerned the big man would not return to Champaign.
Brad Underwood got the best possible scenario for 2020. His top two players returned along with starters Trent Frazier, Damonte Williams, and Giorgi Bezhanishvilli. They bring in a top 20 recruiting class nationally as well as two interesting transfers on the wing in Austin Hutcherson and Jacob Grandison. The Illini will be a fixture atop the Big Ten standings and have a legitimate shot at a Big Ten title.