AP Story

Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn has been voted to the Associated Press Preseason All-America Team, the AP announced Monday. 

2021-22 AP Preseason All-America Team
Drew Timme, Gonzaga (unanimous)
Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
Johnny Juzang, UCLA
Collin Gillespie, Villanova
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana

This is the latest in a string of accolades for Cockburn, a national player of the year candidate who is on the Kareem Adbul-Jabbar Center of the Year watch list, a preseason first-team All-America pick by CBS Sports, Blue Ribbon Yearbook, Athlon Sports, College Hoops Today and Dick Vitale, and Big Ten Player of the Year choice by The Athletic, Blue Ribbon and Lindy's.

Proof that hard work pays off. Proud of you @kxng_alpha ???????? #EveryDayGuys pic.twitter.com/eoTNvRkV7e

— Brad Underwood (@CoachUnderwood) October 25, 2021

Cockburn earned consensus second-team All-America honors last year after averaging 17.7 points on 65.4% shooting and 9.5 rebounds, helping lead the Illini to a 24-7 overall record and 16-4 mark in conference play followed by the Big Ten Tournament title. Illinois earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and ended the year ranked No. 2 in the final AP poll. Cockburn withdrew from the NBA Draft to return to campus for his junior campaign, where the Fighting Illini enter the 2021-22 season ranked No. 11 nationally.

Cockburn gives the Illinois program an AP Preseason All-America selection for the second straight year, following Ayo Dosunmu prior to last season. 

KOFI COCKBURN | 2020-21 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

• NCAA Consensus Second-Team All-American
• Only player in the NCAA to average 15+ points and 9+ rebounds while shooting at least 60%
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Finalist
• Wooden Award All-American Team
• Second-Team All-American by Associated Press, NABC, USBWA, Sporting News, CBS Sports and USA Today
• No. 7 in final kenpom.com National Player of the Year standings
• Big Ten All-Tournament Team
• First-Team All-Big Ten
• USBWA All-District V Team
• Third nationally with 16 double-doubles
• Fourth in the NCAA in field goal percentage at 65.4% (214-327)
• Led the nation with 78 dunks
• Fifth in Big Ten in scoring (17.7 ppg)
• First in B1G and 24th in NCAA in rebounding (9.5 rpg)