NCAA Basketball: Top 25 team frontcourts heading into 2021-22 season

It’s amazing what one player’s decision can do for a team’s fortunes, as Illinois went from a team with major frontcourt questions to now having one of the best in the country. That’s thanks to Kofi Cockburn, who everyone thought was going pro when he left early in the offseason. He then was a key storyline in the month of July, returning from the draft, before entering the portal and ultimately returning to Illinois.

There can be a debate between Cockburn, Hunter Dickinson, and Drew Timme for best returning big man in NCAA Basketball but Illinois gets its All-American big man back for another year. To explain how great the sophomore center was, Cockburn averaged 17.7 ppg and 9.5 rpg, including reaching double figures in all but two games last season.

The 7’0 star was also a rebounding machine, including 11 straight games of double-digit rebounds. Cockburn was a defensive anchor as well and with even more improvement on the offensive end, he can put up 20 and 10 numbers easily next season as the clear-cut No. 1 scoring option.

I consider both Austin Hutcherson and Jacob Grandison as guards so Illinois’ place in this list is primarily due to Cockburn. But Florida transfer Omar Payne provides good depth as the backup center, while Coleman Hawkins and Brandon Lieb should be serviceable bigs that can crack the rotation. But just Cockburn alone warrants a spot even if the supporting cast is a bit weak.