Cockburn for Player of the Year | USBWA Story
Champaign, ILL.– Illinois junior center Kofi Cockburn has been voted a first-team All-American by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, one of three Big Ten players selected to the first team.
This is the eighth first-team All-America honor for Cockburn this season, keeping the junior center on track for consensus first-team All-America designation by the NCAA.
USBWA All-America First-Team
Ochai Agbaji, Kansas
Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
Keegan Murray, Iowa
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 USBWA, NABC, Associated Press, Sporting News, The Athletic, 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 third Illini player ever to earn first-team All-America honors from the USBWA and second straight, following Ayo Dosunmu last season. Cockburn also becomes just the second two-time USBWA All-America selection in school history, along with Dee Brown.
Illinois All-Time USBWA All-Americans
First Team
Kofi Cockburn, 2022
Ayo Dosunmu, 2021
Dee Brown, 2005
Second Team
Kofi Cockburn, 2021
Dee Brown, 2006
Luther Head, 2005
Ken Norman, 1987
