Illini Basketball: Meet the Newcomers
October 22, 2019 | Men's Basketball
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CHAMPAIGN, ILL. – Head coach Brad Underwood, now entering his third season at Illinois, welcomes five newcomers to the 2019-20 squad, three freshmen and two transfers.
Underwood and staff iinked a top-50 player for the second consecutive recruiting class with the addition of four-star center Kofi Cockburn. The Kingston, Jamaica native has only played organized basketball for four years, but he has the opportunity to make a big impact in the paint. One of the largest players ever to suit up for the Orange and Blue, Cockburn measures 7-feet, 290 pounds with a 7-6 wingspan. He is a tenacious rebounder who can score in the post and alter shots. The former track and soccer athlete has great balance and feet with his frame.
Bolstering the frontcourt are two additional freshmen. Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk is a skilled forward from Belgium. He has impressive size for a newcomer at 6-8, 235-pounds. Bosmans-Verdonk was limited during the summer and preseason while recovering from a leg injury. Illinois added Jermaine Hamlin to the roster prior to the start of fall semester classes.
A 6-10, 235-pound center from Lincoln, Illinois, he originally planned to go the prep school route before changing course and signing with the Illini. Hamlin has talent and potential and will focus on skill development during his freshman campaign while battling with the bigs.
Illinois has two transfers who are sitting out this season and will increase the competition in practice. Junior Jacob Grandison is a versatile 6-6 player who can play on the win or at the four. He led Holy Cross in scoring (13.9 ppg) and 3-pointers while ranking second on the Crusaders in rebounding (5.0 rpg). Junior Austin Hutcherson is a 6-6 guard who was a dynamic scorer at Division III Wesleyan in Connecticut, averaging 20.0 po
#21 KOFI COCKBURN
Center | 7-0 | 290 | Fr. | Kingston, Jamaica
You know he's a large man. ??
— Illinois Basketball (@IlliniMBB) October 11, 2019
You know he's a beast on the court. ??
Here's some stuff you may not know about @kxng_alpha ??#Illini x #EveryDayGuys ???? pic.twitter.com/gIsiIhLDih
#3 BENJAMIN BOSMANS-VERDONK
Forward | 6-8 | 235 | Fr. | Lommel, Belgium
He's a baller. From Belgium. ????
— Illinois Basketball (@IlliniMBB) October 9, 2019
Meet freshman Benjamin @BosmansVerdonk ??#Illini x #EveryDayGuys pic.twitter.com/O7N5HCYZgj
#34 JERMAINE HAMLIN
Center | 6-10 | 235 | Fr. | Lincoln, Ill.
Local star becomes an #Illini. You love to see it.
— Illinois Basketball (@IlliniMBB) October 17, 2019
Get to know @king_Rome34 ?? pic.twitter.com/saOWyukhhU
#3 JACOB GRANDISON
Guard/Forward | 6-6 | 200 | Junior | Oakland, Calif. | Holy Cross
?????????????@slimjake_ is another transfer we'll have to wait a year to see on the court, but he's helping this year's squad in practice and we're excited about what he'll bring to the ??&??in 2020-21!#Illini x #EveryDayGuys pic.twitter.com/TS7H4nEsbG
— Illinois Basketball (@IlliniMBB) October 8, 2019
#22 AUSTIN HUTCHERSON
Guard | 6-6 | 175 | Jr. | New York, N.Y. | Wesleyan University
D3 ?? D1
— Illinois Basketball (@IlliniMBB) October 7, 2019
Ball don't lie. @ahutch_22 can fill it up ??. Can't wait to see him on the floor ???????? season. #Illini x #EveryDayGuys ???? pic.twitter.com/KM4yR3YEda
