Cockburn Named NABC First-Team All-American
March 16, 2022 | Men's Basketball
News
Cockburn for Player of the Year
Champaign, ILL.– Illinois junior center Kofi Cockburn has been voted a first-team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), one of three Big Ten players selected to the first team.
Cockburn has garnered first-team All-America accolades from every single outlet that has announced their awards to date, keeping the junior center on track for consensus first-team All-America designation by the NCAA.
NABC Div. I All-America First-Team
Ochai Agbaji, Kansas
Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
Jaden Ivey, Purdue
Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
Kofi Cockburn 2021-22 Highlights
- Only player in the nation averaging 20+ points (21.1 ppg) and 10+ rebounds (10.6 rpg)
- Only player ranked in the top 20 nationally in both scoring (12th) and rebounding (8th)
- First high-major player since 2018, and first Big Ten player since 2004, to average at least 21 points and 10 boards
- Third in NCAA with 11 games of 20+ points and 10+ boards
- First-Team All-American by NABC, Associated Press, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Field of 68 and College Hoops Today
- Naismith Trophy Semifinalist (top 10)
- Wooden Award National Ballot (top 15)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Finalist (top 5)
- Unanimous First-Team All-Big Ten
- NABC First-Team All-District 7
- USBWA All-District V Team
- 13th in NCAA in field goal shooting at 59.8%
- 14th in NCAA in double-doubles (16), despite missing five games
Cockburn is the fourth Illini player ever to earn first-team All-America honors from the NABC and second straight, following Ayo Dosunmu last season. Cockburn also becomes just the second two-time NABC All-America selection in school history, along with Dee Brown.
Illinois All-Time NABC All-Americans
First Team
Kofi Cockburn, 2022
Ayo Dosunmu, 2021
Bill Erickson, 1949
Andy Phillip, 1947
Second Team
Kofi Cockburn, 2021
Dee Brown, 2006
Dee Brown, 2005
Luther Head, 2005
Deron Williams, 2005
Frank Williams, 2001
George BonSalle, 1957
Rod Fletcher, 1952
Third Team
Brian Cook, 2003
Kendall Gill, 1990
Ken Norman, 1987
Skip Thoren, 1965
Paul Judson, 1956
Bill Ridley, 1956
