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CHAMPAIGN Ill. – The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) announced Friday its 2022-23 Newcomers of the Year. Basketball stars Terrence Shannon Jr. and Makira Cook have been named winners of the inaugural award, presented to the top male and female non-freshmen competing in their first season for the Fighting Illini. The recipients were selected by vote of Illinois head coaches and DIA executive staff.

Shannon was one of the nation's top transfers this past season, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors and helping lead the Illini to a third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and fourth-straight 20-win season. Shannon led the team in scoring, ranking seventh in the Big Ten at 17.2 points per game. His aggressiveness in attacking the basket resulted in 166 made free throws in 210 attempts, standing second in the Big Ten in both categories. He also led the Illini in steals (1.3 spg), and was second in assists (2.8 apg).

Shannon scored in double figures 27 times in his 31 appearances, with 11 20-point games. He scored a career-high 30 points vs. Monmouth and had one of the NCAA's signature performances of the season, racking up 29 points and tying the school record with eight 3-pointers to lead Illinois to a comeback win over No. 8 UCLA. He also tallied 24 second-half points to spearhead an 18-point comeback in the home win over No. 21 Northwestern.

Cook was one of the most impactful transfers nationally as well, helping ignite an impressive one-year Illini turnaround that culminated in the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 20 years. She was a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten pick – the first Illinois player since 2010 to garner first-team all-league honors – and was tabbed honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press and Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Cook led the Illini in scoring at 18.3 points per game, ranking fourth in the Big Ten, and also led the team in assists (4.2 apg).

Cook scored in double digits 27 times in 30 contests, tallying 15 20-point games. She erupted for a career-high 33 points at No. 5 Indiana, part of her streak of seven-straight 20+ point outings. She had another huge game against a top-10 opponent at No. 8 Maryland, scoring a team-high 29 points. Cook led all scorers with 24 points in a Big Ten Tournament victory over Rutgers, helping the Illini advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2011.

Shannon and Cook both return to headline their respective programs for the 2023-24 season. Fighting Illini Basketball tickets are on sale now.