My goal has been to go to the NBA for a very long time, he said. Im ready whenever you pass it to score it or do whatever I need to do. [59th percentile], very few big men could move him off of spots on the low block. Cockburn said he speaks with Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu, a former teammate at Illinois, every day about how to maximize the combine process. We break down Illinois C Kofi Cockburn with a scouting report and outlook heading into the 2022 NBA Draft. 2022. First Round : Second Round : 1. Having a bounce back year at the foul line, Cockburn has more to gain from improving as a free throw shooter than most as his size makes him a magnet for fouls. MORE. With Jalen Brunson or Luka Doncic absolutely taking over these playoffs its safe to say this offseason the Mavericks need to find a true big man to help even out the misbalance they have on the team. Fifty-eight players will now begin the next chapter in their respective professional careers. He has good hands. Atlanta enters the pre-draft process with the 16th and 44th picks, respectively. pic.twitter.com/yGmCisdwj5, Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) May 20, 2022. Rebounds. Please check your email for a confirmation. Cockburn, a 7-foot center, declared for the draft after his junior season at Illinois. 2022 NBA Draft Big Board 3.0: Ranking the top 101 prospects before March Madness . Per shotquality.com hes 97th percentile in offensive rebounding, 96th percentile in defensive rebounding, and 92nd percentile in blocks. But in the NBA, there wont always be the short and light defenders. He is not ranked in the CBS Sports Top 60 Big Board for the 2022 NBA Draft. We break down Illinois C Kofi Cockburn with a scouting report and outlook heading into the 2022 NBA Draft. 2022 NBA Draft: Kofi Cockburn insists he'll have impact at next level May 25 2022 7:58AM PST In the only two seasons he played after winning Big Ten Rookie of the Year at the University of Illinois, Kofi Cockburn was a two-time consensus All-American. Kofi is an old school big man who acts as an enforcer inside. The All-American has dominated the paint in college basketball season after season, and the Jazz will be getting an absolute force of a player. The Golden Eagles hit a two-pointer with 10 seconds left to send the game to overtime against Southern Missouri State. Using his frame and length well, hes an effective area rebounder and puts a body on opposing big men inside. This is why you NEED to draft Kofi Cockburn! Players with a similar height and weight as Kofi include Jusuf Nurkic 290lb, Nikola Jokic 284lb, Brook and Robin Lopez 281lb, Joel Embiid 280lb, and Andre Drummond 279lb. NBA Draft 2022. The problem for Kofi is hes effective at what he does, why would Illinois mess with that by playing him in a way that may hinder team success. Cockburn declared for the 2022 NBA draft but went undrafted. All Rights Reserved. So why cant Kofi be dominant in the NBA. Cockburn's only a projected late second-round pick by most draft experts, but . 65 player eligible. It's really not that complicated: The crux of the problem for the Hawkeyes was that Kofi Cockburn was in the building. He averaged 20.9 points and 10.6 rebounds, both career-highs, along with one blocked shot in 30.7 minutes per game over 28 contests. There are a couple of reasons why I think Kofi could potentially get picked in the NBA Draft. Going into last nights draft, most draft analysts and mock drafts had Cockburn going undrafted. An Exhibit 10 contract in the NBA is a one-year, minimum-salary contract that is essentially unguaranteed, allowing for the player to be cut by the team or signed to a larger contract down the line. But a snub is a snub and we must put them on wax to remember those who, despite pre-draft expectations, leave a post-draft world having been excluded from the 58 draft night announcements. Kofi Cockburn is one of the most physically imposing players in the sport standing 7-feet tall and weighing almost 300 pounds and made the most of it as a junior at Illinois on the way to All-American honors. The center is the most important defensive position as they are the most involved with ball screen actions and protecting the rim. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. This is why I think his development may be better in the G League than in college. NEWS. It was in his freshman season. Whether due to injuries or due to guard dominance we have not seen a big man take over in Dallas. Please play responsibly. Were going to take a look at the top prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft, assess their strengths and weaknesses, and provide a player comparison for how we see them developing at the next level. Illinois big man Kofi Cockburn declared for the NBA draft Wednesday morning, giving the Chicago Bulls another option on their big board. With James Wiseman coming off an injury, Kevon Looneys contract expiring, and Draymond Green not getting any younger, the Warriors will need a backup big. There are certain matchup problems with his lack of mobility defending ball screens. Hard doubling the ball handler, showing a double but then getting back to the roller to slow down the ball handler, playing up near the screen to try to slow down the ball handler as they turn the corner to name a few, or as Kofi must do, drop coverage. 1. Copy the URL of this page to share your draft: /nba/draft/draft_simulator/view . Even if he can be average at the rim in the NBA, how much value does that provide with his lack of other offensive abilities? A center isnt a pressing need in Chicago, but Nikola Vucevics defensive liability in the paint is noticeable. Kofi is an old school big man who acts as an enforcer inside. Minnesotas Eric Curry is 69 240lb. 5 centers the Bulls could consider taking in the 2022 Draft Sam Smith May 18, 2022 12:49 PM CDT The Orlando Magic won Tuesday's NBA lottery for the rights to the No. Getty Images/Ringer illustration. Cockburn needs a chance. Allowing 0.79 points per post up possession [59th percentile], very few big men could move him off of spots on the low block. Months of preparation that included the NBA Draft Combine and multiple pre-draft workouts with teams such as the Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz, and. If I go back to school, thats one more year of delaying my improvement to the next level. If he plays and develops in the G League, its possible he finds his way into the NBA and plays rotation back up big minutes in the regular season for a few seasons, but the upside for Kofi Cockburn in the NBA isnt there. May 23, 2022 5:47 pm ET Former Illinois center Kofi Cockburn was among the draft-eligible prospects to work out with the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, the team announced. He spent 12 years at The Oklahoman, where he handled the Thunder beat before moving into an editors role. Well, I am kind of crazy. Declaring for and withdrawing from the 2020 NBA Draft, Cockburn showed growth in his second year in Champaign. Heres a look at Illinois C Kofi Cockburn. The NBA Draft is nearing, and the Illinois basketball team is looking to get a player selected for the second-straight season. Its not like players of his size or weight arent playing in the NBA. Its about long-term success, he said. He establishes position well and throws his weight around in the paint. I think that if I leave (school) now I put myself in a great position to be successful for a longer time and be able to get a head start. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. The New York Knicks Mitchell Robinson has taken 236 shot attempts this season, all have come within four feet of the rim. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Position: F. Height and weight: 6-foot-10, 235 lbs. Im going to have to find my role, playing defense, talking, bringing positive energy and rebounding.. There is a chance he could get a 2-way contact. Kofi Cockburn C - Illinois (Jamaica) - HT: 7-0 - WT: 293 - WING: 7-4 1/4 - Jr - Kofi is a throwback, enforcer type of big man who dominates in the paint. The All-American will be given a chance to prove himself to the NBA this summer with the Jazz reportedly offering the former Illinois big an Exhibit 10 contract. [84th percentile] his efficiency on the block was the cornerstone of Illinois half court offense. "I'm closing one of the most amazing chapters of my life," Cockburn told ESPN on Wednesday. Follow Darnell on Twitter @DarnellMayberry. Former Illinois center Kofi Cockburn was among the draft-eligible prospects to work out with the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, the team announced. It may be detrimental to his development that he gets few real paint battles to improve his craft. Morant to miss 'at least' two games after IG post, Celtics seek revenge against streaking Knicks, Bucks vs. 76ers odds, picks, computer sims, NBA DFS picks, lineups, advice, March 4 strategy, Grizzlies' Clarke out for season with Achilles injury, Raptors vs. Wizards odds, picks, computer sims, Window for Durant, Suns is open -- until it's not, Morant to miss two games after video with gun, Nuggets beat Grizz, likely lock up West's top spot, Randle's game-winner runs Knicks' win streak to eight. You'll find a full breakdown of what players are deciding. If you are a fan of Illinois and Kofi Cockburn, this may be a question you have asked yourself. In declaring again this year, Cockburn chose to forgo his remaining college eligibility and go all in on the NBA. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports The NBA Draft is. Cockburn, who was a consensus All-American, averaged 20.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and one blocked shot in 28 games. His ability to finish well-placed lobs and make an impact on the glass played a role in that, as did the improvement of his left hand. Many of the players who were undrafted are only surprises because the scouting community was high on them and by extension expected they would be taken with a Round 1 or Round 2 pick. The big man has everything to work for this summer as he begins his journey through the world of the NBA. I think something that is commonly said that Kofi needs to improve is his mid range and outside shooting. This season we have seen him struggle against two opponents. There are many different ball screen coverages for a center. His interior defense is a big part of his appeal and his rebounding will certainly translate well. Still, a 6'7" ball-handler averaging 18.2 points, 8.7 boards and 3.3 assists deserves attention. The 7-footer is not projected to be selected by most mock drafts, but he was among the standouts at the draft combine, averaging 15 points and 12 rebounds in two scrimmage games. 7 pick to build around Damian Lillard, Mark Williams posted some eye-popping measurements at the draft combine, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. How much of Kofi Cockburns dominance is the fact that not many NCAA rosters have the height or weight to contain a specimen like Kofi Cockburn. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Without NIL, Kofi would be gone, playing in the G League or Europe. -- players who were worthy of being selected but who unfortunately were not. Having a bounce back year at the foul line, Cockburn has more to gain from improving as a free throw shooter than most as his size makes him a magnet for fouls. His take on the FBI thing is dead. Think about when the ball handler is double teamed. He must stay by the rim. Throw him the ball and its like hes Clifford Franklin of the movie The Replacements with stick-em on his hands. Kofi was 5/15 from the field vs Koloko and 3/9 vs Edey. Many are the rim protector / rim runner types. He looks like a senior in high school playing against freshmen. Cockburn to Chicago might be too good to be true, but the fit is there. At the bare minimum, Cockburn could be a developmental center that eventually will be in charge of handling all of the paint and rebounding duties. 2022 NBA Draft Consensus Big Board While it is important to form one's own prospect evaluations, it is a valuable exercise to get a pulse on how the market values prospects that comprise a given draft class. . Full schedule, bracket for 2023 Big East Tournament, Full schedule, bracket for 2023 Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament, Full list of every automatic bid into 2023 NCAA Tournament, Full schedule, bracket for 2023 SEC Tournament. SIM LOTTERY. While he does not fit extremely well in todays NBA, he could still be useful as a high-energy piece who will throw down thunderous dunks and use his massive body to back down any defender. Banchero exploded for 16 points alone in the third quarter to lead the Magic to a win over the Hornets. Still, despite stardom in college, how high he goes in the draft -- if at all -- is a separate question entirely. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: collegebasketball | pageType: stories | Player Rankings updated 16 days ago | Draft Order updated after every game. This is the short roll))) or shoot a mid range jumper out of the short roll while scoring around the rim, thats an NBA player. NBA 2022 Draft Prospects | Kofi Cockburn | NBA.com 2022 NBA Draft Home Draft Board Prospects Teams All Picks: 1-58 Trade Tracker News Video @NBADraft More Full Draft Board 1. The reality for Cockburn is hes betting on himself, potentially passing on seven figures in name, image and likeness money now available at the collegiate level to pursue a dream that could begin on a bumpy path. However, how much of his offensive dominance is his sheer massive size relative to the competition? FINAL - June 23, 2022 at 5:00 pm. Kofi Cockburn's return to the Illinois basketball lineup turned the tide in a good way for their quest for a conference crown as has Trent Frazier's return after testing the NBA Draft. No team is going to put me as their star player. Cockburn has improved his footwork, utilizes the drop step well, and has nice touch around the rim for a big man. And I cant put a price on my dream. Kofi Cockburn is Breaking Out - Future150/Brian Flinn: . This post originally appeared onRookie Wire! I dont think anybodys able to stop me from getting a rebound or getting an extra possession if I want to. Im always betting on myself, he said. Seabron's lack of shooting has kept NBA draft buzz from building. He doesnt have any illusions about his professional arc mirroring his success in college.