Top 3 Kofi Cockburn moments as a Fighting Illini

February 11th, 2025 is the day that Kofi Cockburn will have his Illini basketball jersey honored at State Farm Center. Cockburn had a storied three-year career in Champaign highlighted by a Big Ten Tournament championship in 2021 and a Big Ten regular season championship in 2022. Throughout his three years, Cockburn averaged 17.2 ppg and 9.6 rebounds. He was a two-time consensus All-American and is currently playing in South Korea for the Seoul Samsung Thunders. Throughout his three-year career as a Fighting Illini, three moments stuck out as the most memorable

Make sure you all check out Kofi’s NIL Locker room with Campus Ink here.

3) It was Amazing

This was the moment that Illinois basketball officially felt back. The 2019-2020 year was unfortunately cut short by COVID-19. However, the Illini had an incredible 2020-2021 season that was highlighted by a Big Ten Tournament championship. Despite not winning the regular season title, the Illini took control of the Big Ten Tournament. After what seemed like an eternity of mediocrity, the Illini won the Big Ten Tournament and all emotions let loose. After winning, Kofi Cockburn and Giorgi Bezhanishvili capped it off with a press conference to remember.

“AMAZING”

You could say Giorgi Bezhanishvili and Kofi Cockburn are pumped up to win the Big Ten title and be a No. 1 NCAA tournament seed…AMAZING 11 times in 27 seconds
😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/dVGCQFN4Me

— Bret Beherns (@BretBeherns) March 14, 2021

2) King Kofi’s 37 points take control of the Big Ten

Kofi Cockburn luckily came back for his junior season in Champaign and continued to dominate. During his junior year, there was no better performance than the one he had on February 2nd, 2022. The Wisconsin Badgers arrived to town tied with Illinois at the top of the Big Ten. However, Cockburn put the team on his back and had a ridiculous 37-point, 12-rebound effort. The win was key in the Illini’s quest to win the Big Ten regular season Championship and was as dominant as any performance by an Illini at the State Farm Center.

1) Kofi stuffs Garza at the buzzer to close out the 2019-2020 season

Who could forget March 8th, 2020? That was the game where Illinois beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 78-76 in front of a rejuvenated State Farm Center. Winning that game vs the Hawkeyes helped Illinois clinch the fourth seed in the Big Ten Tournament and a double-bye- A feat that seemed so far away for so long. Cockburn sealed the game in the final possession where he blocked Luka Garza with perfect defense.

Kofi Cockburn blocks Luka Garza at the buzzer to preserve Illinois’ win over Iowa, 78-76.

pic.twitter.com/JEhMLqWqpK

— CollegeBB News (@CollegeBBNCAA) March 9, 2020

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