Illinois NBA Draft History | Shannon Bio | Shannon Career & Season Game-By-Game Stats
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.Â- University of Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (Chicago, Ill.) was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the No. 27 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday night.
Shannon is the first Illini player selected in the first round of the NBA Draft since Meyers Leonard in 2012. He becomes the second player of Head Coach Brad Underwood's tenure to be drafted, meanwhile, following Ayo Dosunmu in 2021.
Shannon ranked third in the NCAA in scoring this past season at 23.0 points per game, the highest scoring average by an Illini player in 51 years. He shattered the Illinois all-time single-season scoring record, totaling 736 points over his 32 appearances, becoming the first Illini ever to surpass the 700-point mark. Shannon also averaged 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals.
"We are so excited for Terrence; this is the culmination of years of hard work, sacrifice, and dedication to the game he loves," Underwood said. "His decision to return for a final year of college and continue to develop not only helped our team achieve historic success, it solidified him as a first-round pick and allowed his NBA dreams to come true. The Timberwolves made a great decision by selecting Terrence, they are getting a two-way player who should make an immediate impact with his ability to score in transition, attack the rim, shoot threes, and defend. It was a privilege for our staff and his teammates to be here in Chicago celebrating this special moment with Terrence and his family, and it's another proud day for Fighting Illini Basketball."
Shannon led Illinois to the third-winnningest season in school history (29-9), the program's first NCAA Elite Eight appearance since 2005, a Big Ten Tournament championship, and a ranking of No. 6 in the final AP poll. Shannon was named Most Outstanding Player at the Big Ten Tournament after averaging an astounding 34.0 points at Minneapolis' Target Center, home of the Timberwolves. Shannon had 28 points vs. Ohio State in the quarterfinal, career-high 40 points vs. Nebraska in the semifinal, and 34 points vs. Wisconsin in the title game.
Terrence Shannon Jr. – 2023-24 Illini Highlights
- All-American by four media outlets after helping leading Illinois to 29 wins, the third-winningest season in school history, and No. 6 ranking in final AP poll
- NCAA All-Region Team selection, leading Illinois to its first Elite Eight appearance since 2005
- Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player, starring as Illinois won its third conference title in four years
- First-team All-Big Ten by the coaches, media, and AP
- Shattered the Illinois all-time single season scoring record, totaling 736 points (first Illini ever to top 700 points)
- Ranked third in the NCAA in scoring at 23.0 ppg, the highest scoring average by an Illini player in 51 years
- Set the Big Ten Tournament's three-game scoring record with an astounding 34.0 points-per-game average (102 total) en route to being named Tournament Most Outstanding Player
- Set an Illinois single-season record with 21 20-point games
- Also set an Illini single-season with 221 made free throws
