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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
#3 BENJAMIN BOSMANS-VERDONK
Forward | 6-8 | 235 | Fr. | Lommel, Belgium
#34 JERMAINE HAMLIN
Center | 6-10 | 235 | Fr. | Lincoln, Ill.
#3 JACOB GRANDISON
Guard/Forward | 6-6 | 200 | Junior | Oakland, Calif. | Holy Cross
#22 AUSTIN HUTCHERSON
Guard | 6-6 | 175 | Jr. | New York, N.Y. | Wesleyan University
