Fighting Illini junior point guard Ayo Dosunmu and sophomore center Kofi Cockburn have been named to the Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Midseason Team, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Thursday.
Illinois is one of just four schools – and the lone Big Ten program – to have multiple student-athletes featured on the 30-player Midseason Team for the Naismith Trophy, which has been awarded annually since 1969 to the nation's most outstanding college basketball player. The Big Ten leads all conferences with eight players selected.
Naismith Trophy Midseason Team
Jose Alvarado, Georgia Tech
Charles Bassey, Western Kentucky
Jared Butler, Baylor
Marcus Carr, Minnesota
Justin Champagnie, Pittsburgh
Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
Derek Culver, West Virginia
Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State
Oscar daSilva, Stanford
Hunter Dickinson, Michigan
Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois
Luka Garza, Iowa
Collin Gillespie, Villanova
Quentin Grimes, Houston
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
Carlik Jones, Louisville
Herbert Jones, Alabama
Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
Cameron Krutwig, Loyola Chicago
E.J. Liddell, Ohio State
Sandro Mamukelashvili, Seton Hall
Mac McClung, Texas Tech
Davion Mitchell, Baylor
Evan Mobley, USC
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Villanova
Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
Cameron Thomas, LSU
Drew Timme, Gonzaga
Trevion Williams, Purdue
Marcus Zegarowski, Creighton
The Fighting Illini duo have been recognized after accomplishing the following:
Dosunmu 2020-21 Highlights
• Naismith Trophy Midseason Team
• Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 Watch List
• Bob Cousy Award Top 10 Candidates List
• Naismith Trophy Player of the Week (2/8)
• Four-time Big Ten Player of the Week (12/14, 12/28, 2/1, 2/8)
• Only player in the NCAA the last 11 seasons to average at least 20 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists
• No. 4 in KenPom National Player of the Year rankings
• 11th in NCAA in scoring at 21.2 ppg
• Second nationally with 10 games of 22+ points
• Third in Big Ten in assists (5.1 apg) and 16th in B1G in rebounding (6.4 rpg)
• Third triple-double in school history – and first in NCAA this season vs. a ranked team – with 21 points, career-high tying 12 rebounds, and career-high 12 assists vs. No. 19 Wisconsin (2/6)
• Career-high 36 points vs. Missouri (12/12)
• Has scored in double figures in 33 consecutive games, the fifth-longest streak nationally
• On pace to record the highest scoring average at Illinois in the last 30 years
Cockburn 2020-21 Highlights
• Naismith Trophy Midseason Team
• Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 Watch List
• Kareem Abdul-Jabar Award Top 10 Candidates List
• Second in the NCAA with 13 double-doubles
• Sixth in NCAA in field goal shooting at 67% (122-182)
• Fifth in Big Ten in scoring at 17.2 ppg
• Leads B1G and ranks 13th in NCAA in rebounding at 10.4 rpg
• One of eight players nationally averaging at least 17 points and 10 rebounds
• Leads nation with 14 games rebounding in double figures
• Double-doubles in 10 of 12 Big Ten games, averaging 18.8 ppg and 11.3 rpg during league play
• Career-high 33 points vs. Minnesota (12/15)
• School-record 8 dunks en route to 23 points vs. No. 19 Wisconsin (2/6)
• On pace to become first Illini since 1973 to average a double-double for the season
The 10 national semifinalists and four finalists for the Naismith Trophy will be announced on March 4 and March 16, respectively. The 2021 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy will be awarded during the Final Four at the Naismith Awards Brunch on April 4.
