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Terrence Shannon Jr. announced on social media that he’s leaving Illinois and is declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft

Terrence Shannon Jr. pic

After three seasons at Texas Tech and one with Illinois, Terrence Shannon Jr. announced on his social media that he is declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft. Shannon Jr. posted career-high numbers across the board in his first season with the Fighting Illini. This was a move that Illinois might not have been expecting as Shannon Jr. still has a year of eligibility left. He was one of the best transfers this past offseason and is looking to take his talent to the pros. 

The six-foot-six guard is projected to be a second-round pick according to ESPN databases. Shannon Jr.’s jump he made in his first season at Illinois was the momentum he needed in his career to feel comfortable taking his game to the next level.

The 2023 NBA draft is Thursday, June 22. Shannon Jr. will have to wait until then for what should be the greatest night of his life yet.

Terrence Shannon Jr. announced that he is declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft

Shannon Jr. played in 31 games for Illinois this season and made 30 starts. The 22-year-old averaged a career-high this season in points (17.2), rebounds (4.6), assists (2.8), steals (1.3), and minutes played (32.1). He was ranked sixth in the Big 10 for most points per game in 2022-23.

His best game this season came against #8 UCLA at the time when he recorded a strong double-double with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Shannon Jr. was the 62nd-ranked player in the nation coming out of high school in the class of 2019. He played four seasons at Lincoln Park High School in Chicago before he prepped at IMG Academy in Florida.

Shannon Jr. has joined Coleman Hawkins as two Illini who have declared for the 2023 NBA Draft. Hawkins led the team in assists and rebounds last year. Head coach Brad Underwood will have a hard time replacing the production of Shannon Jr. and Hawkins. That’s how quickly rosters turnover in college basketball.

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Zach Wolpin
Sports Editor

Zach Wolpin is an NBA and NFL expert who's been betting on the league for over three years now. Wolpin has been a fan of the NBA and has been watching for a decade and a half. He covers the latest news and stories surrounding the league daily. His passion in life is watching sports and being able to share that through his sports writing. He has written about the NBA and other sports leagues through various media outlets over the years like Sir Charles In Charge, G-Men HQ, and TAP into South Plainfield. Before he became an NBA News Writer, Wolpin attended Montclair State University where he graduated in 2021. He studied Sports Media and Writing while in school.

All posts by Zach Wolpin
Author photo
Zach Wolpin Sports Editor

Zach Wolpin is an NBA and NFL expert who's been betting on the league for over three years now. Wolpin has been a fan of the NBA and has been watching for a decade and a half. He covers the latest news and stories surrounding the league daily. His passion in life is watching sports and being able to share that through his sports writing. He has written about the NBA and other sports leagues through various media outlets over the years like Sir Charles In Charge, G-Men HQ, and TAP into South Plainfield. Before he became an NBA News Writer, Wolpin attended Montclair State University where he graduated in 2021. He studied Sports Media and Writing while in school.

All posts by Zach Wolpin