2022 NBA Draft Board - MIP Scouting Many are the rim protector / rim runner types. The 2022 NBA Draft order has been set and the list of eligible players is officially locked in. Its also important, Cockburn said, for him to show his personality, his infectious ear-to-ear smile, his unwavering positivity and his penchant for taking charge. Following a three-year career at Illinois, center Kofi Cockburn signed his first professional contract with the Utah Jazz early this morning after going undrafted Thursday night. The first prediction I have for the Illinois basketball team is Kofi Cockburn getting selected in the NBA Draft. While it is unlikely that Kofi Cockburn hears his name called this . NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, Carrying a huge burden on the block, Cockburn ranks among the highest volume back to the basket threats at the high-major level in recent history. late first to mid second round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, 5-Star Corner: Patrick Baldwin Jr. Interview, A Closer Look At Bronny James as a NBA Draft Prospect, Talented Sons of Famous NBA Fathers Part 2, The 10 Top Freshmen In High School Basketball Class of 2026 Recruits, Re-Draft of the 2022 NBA Draft, Top 20 2 Months Into The Season, My Guys Prospects Im Irrationally High On In The 2023 Draft, 2023 NBA Draft Big Board Early Season Edition, Upperclassmen Moving Up The Draft Board The Desmond Bane Effect, The Elite 25 The Top NBA Prospects In High School Basketball Fall 2022, 2026 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings (2025 recruiting class), Victor Wembanyamas Physical Profile and NBA Comparisons. His jersey will hang here.. Cockburn needs a chance. Still, despite stardom in college, how high he goes in the draft -- if at all -- is a separate question entirely. NBA Draft 2022: Wizards select Keegan Murray in recent mock 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 . Specializing in drafts with top players on the NBA horizon, player profiles, scouting reports, rankings and prospective international recruits. Odds and lines subject to change. NBA rules allow for a player to test the draft only twice while still returning; a third time is the point of no return. He just wants to land with a team that wants him and one he can help. I think thats one of my obstacles, proving people wrong. Michigan's Juwan Howard seeks elusive win at Illinois We have the brackets, dates, time, matchups, TV channels, live streaming outlets and more for the 2023 Ivy League Conference Tournament here. 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. That is where I expect Kofi to be selected. Both NBA prospects in the 71, 230lb Christian Koloko and the 74, 285lb Zach Edey. 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. Iowa starts a big that is 69 222lb. As March Madness gets going we're taking a first stab at 2022 NBA Mock Draft. 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. SPORTS. Looking to put defenders in the rim with room to gather and catching some lobs, his weight loss afforded him some additional lift as a junior. Rebounds. Kofi Cockburn to enter NBA draft after three seasons with Illinois Kofi Cockburn to enter NBA draft after three seasons with Illinois So why cant Kofi be dominant in the NBA. Cockburns size is a factor around the rim defensively even if he does not block a lot of shots. It may be detrimental to his development that he gets few real paint battles to improve his craft. | 2022 NBA Draft Scouting Report No views May 27, 2022 0 Dislike Save The Field Of 68 14.1K subscribers Kofi Cockburn. NBA mock draft: Jabari Smith remains No. 1, Johnny Davis rising Minnesotas Eric Curry is 69 240lb. He's playing at an elite level in his second season and is looking more and more like a first round pick. IstillLikeHarv - 247sports.com Mock Drafts. 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. Cockburn seems to be embarking on his professional career with the proper attitude one that former college stars could struggle with when jumping to the NBA. If he can take his athleticism up one more notch, watch out! The 2022 NBA Draft order has been set and the list of eligible players is officially locked in. 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. Liddell and Duane Washington will have the opportunity to impress scouts at the NBA G League Elite Camp this weekend. I think he could sneak into the second round, and Washington seems like a logical landing spot. Illinois star declaring for NBA Draft could be huge for Bulls His weaknesses fit the bill of an old-school big man as he doesnt have much of a shooting range outside of the low post. NBA players with a similar height and wingspan include, Nikola Vucevic, Damian Jones, Karl-Anthony Towns, Alex Len, Evan Mobley, Steven Adams, and Ivica Zubac. Doing a nice job moving bodies before the catch and operating quickly once he got the ball, Cockburn showed the ability to make hooks over both shoulders and use drop steps to initiate contact, but did a lot of scoring off the way he could seal defenders out of plays. The NBA is a whole different level. The combination of their shooters and Cockburn in the paint taking away at least one defender at all times is exactly what Steve Kerr likes to run. Cockburns only a projected late second-round pick by most draft experts, but had one of the best careers of anyone to wear the orange and blue. He should have stayed in school, the executive told The Athletic. 1. Thanks for watching and stay tuned for more!I own none of the footage in the video, it is intended for the purposes of critique and education.#koficockburn #. 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. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Additionally, Cockburns role in putting Illinois basketball back on the map has already ensured that his jersey will hang from the rafters of State Farm Center. How much can he improve his stock in the college game with the difficulty set to easy? It's really not that complicated: The crux of the problem for the Hawkeyes was that Kofi Cockburn was in the building. He was the only Division I player to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds and was the only player to rank in the top 20 in each category. Rudy Gobert, Dwight Howard, Clint Capela, DeAndre Jordan, Daniel Gafford all take over 80% of their shots within four feet of the rim. NBA mock draft: Big Board ranks top 101 prospects before March Madness This is not a death knell for their careers, of course -- players like Jose Alvarado and Fred VanVleet have carved out roles in the NBA after being undrafted, it's part of the business -- but it is a milestone worth remembering. Kofi Cockburn 2022 Draft Profile | Tankathon He attempted only one 3-pointer throughout his three seasons in college. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. SIM LOTTERY. Cap'n Kielar's Best Bets: February 27, 2021 - Prime Time Sports Talk The concern 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. Tacko is 76. View all posts by Hoop Informatics, https://craftednba.com/player-traits/length. Establishing deep position, operating decisively off seals or drop steps, and drawing fouls in bunches he finished the year ranked among the most efficient volume scorers in the country. Ranking among the most productive back to the basket scorers in the country and facing as many double teams as nearly any player over the last decade, the massive big man imposed his will on opposing centers down low. He establishes position well and throws his weight around in the paint. Ultimately, this is just a checkpoint as they continue to chase their career -- and some, if not all, will have opportunities either on two-way deals or Exhibit 10 deals to showcase their talents for NBA teams. As hes navigating the NBA circuit this week, Cockburn is going about it selflessly. The Golden Eagles hit a two-pointer with 10 seconds left to send the game to overtime against Southern Missouri State. Kofi is a part of the Jazz. This is a ranking (not a 'mock-draft'). Center Kofi Cockburn celebrates on the court during the Big Ten Championship on March 6. 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. There are a couple of reasons why I think Kofi could potentially get picked in the NBA Draft. Sharing Your Mock Draft. Why Kofi Cockburn isn't on NBA Mock Drafts - Hoop Informatics NBA Mock Draft 2022: Taking Stock Before The NCAA Tournament - UPROXX With that being said, there are a few names to keep an eye on for the draft and for after the draft when teams are looking to get a good deal. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Making the easy play returning the ball back out to the perimeter out of double teams and experimenting a bit with midrange shots, Cockburns skill level evolved a bit over his three seasons in college, but he still does much of his damage in the lane and looks for his shot assertively. at the NBA scouting combine in May. NFL. With Greg Popovich seemingly staying another year, who better to help Kofi Cockburn utilize his skills than the man who coached Tim Duncan. There are many different ball screen coverages for a center. Follow Darnell on Twitter @DarnellMayberry. Cockburns size is a factor around the rim defensively even if he does not block a lot of shots. My goal has been to go to the NBA for a very long time, he said. For Illinois, it's a crushing loss to a team that was already set to turn over quite a bit of its roster this offseason. We'll track signing with agents, testing the waters and returning to school here. NBA draft: Combine player comparisons based on results from Chicago AT&T Deals. 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 | I think that Im ready right now to go to the NBA. You can put me in whatever situation, Cockburn said. Kofi is a massive center with the brute force of an offensive lineman. 1. Cockburn worked out with five NBA teams (one of which being the Utah Jazz) and participated at the NBA Draft Combine prior to last night. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports The NBA Draft is. Thats my dream, and Im willing to chase it regardless.. It has recently hosted several prospects for workouts ahead of the draft combine, including LSU forward Tari Eason and Villanova guard Collin Gillespie. All the nostalgia for Illinoians topped off with the ability of a paint presence which the Bulls currently lack, seems like the perfect fit. But hes projected to be selected in the second round at best, with multiple mock drafts not forecasting him to be picked at all. Age: 18, Freshman. MAIL. The Pacers have been rumored to be shipping off Myles Turner this offseason leaving them with a sizeable role to fill. That means committing to a role of doing the dirty work, something hes showcased at this weeks combine scrimmages. May 20, 2022; Chicago, IL, USA; Kofi Cockburn (88) participates in the 2022 NBA Draft Combine at Wintrust Arena. The center averaged 13.3 points and 8.8 rebounds in his freshman season, 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds in his sophomore season and 20.9 points and 10.6 rebounds in his junior season. Eligibility restrictions apply. College Basketball is getting into its stretch run of the regular season. He is a SLEEPER! Clocking in at just under 300 pounds, hell have the size and strength to bang with just about anyone in the paint and will be effective at pulling down rebounds. Allowing 0.79 points per post up possession [59th percentile], very few big men could move him off of spots on the low block. Right now hes playing a video game on rookie or novice and things come easy to him, but when we up the game difficulty to all-star, does he have the type of game that will translate? Banchero exploded for 16 points alone in the third quarter to lead the Magic to a win over the Hornets. Robin No More, Kofi Cockburn Has Illinois Aiming High The Pacers are a young team and with them being rumored to be going after guards in free agency, its almost fitting that they draft a backup center to hold down that fort for the time being. Kofi is an old school big man who acts as an enforcer inside. A ferocious rebounder who looks to tear the rim off the backboard any chance he gets as a finisher, Cockburn scored a terrific. (LogOut/ March Madness is here, which means NBA scouts and executives get a concentrated look at how many of the top prospects perform on an elevated stage. 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. 1 overall pick. NBA 2022 Draft Prospects | Kofi Cockburn | NBA.com Electing to return as a junior this past season, he put up career numbers by averaging 20.9 points and 10.6 rebounds a game and helped the Fighting Illini claim the co-regular season championship in the Big Ten. Illinois center Kofi Cockburn is dominating everybody, and it's 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. And it was a miss. The Winners and Losers of the 2022 NBA Draft - The Ringer Born in Jamaica but growing up in Queens, Cockburns physical dimensions earned him some attention early on and he played in a pair of Nike Hoop Summits over his three seasons at Oak Hill Academy where he finished his senior year ranked among the consensus top-50 prospects in the high school class of 2019. Carrying a heavy shot creating burden when he was on the floor, Cockburn was the focal point of the Illini offense. He makes the money sound like an afterthought. They have pick No. Dont worry, its not all Texas teams! I dont think anybodys able to stop me from getting a rebound or getting an extra possession if I want to. These teams should give a look at Kofi Cockburn in the 2022 NBA Draft. The Mavericks truthfully lack a big man. Position: F. Height and weight: 6-foot-10, 235 lbs. He could also stand to improve his shot blocking as he averaged just 1.2 per game throughout his entire career at Illinois.