University of Illinois Athletics

January 31, 2022

Champaign, ILL.– Fighting Illini junior center Kofi Cockburn has been named to the Late Season Top 20 Watch List for the John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy's, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Monday on ESPNU.

Cockburn is a top contender for the Wooden Award, which has been presented annually since 1976 to the nation's most outstanding college basketball player. He is having a dominant season for the Orange and Blue:

Cockburn 2021-22 Highlights
• Ninth in NCAA in scoring at 21.1 ppg
• Fourth in NCAA in rebounding at 11.6 rpg
• One of just two players nationally averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds
• Second in NCAA with seven games of 20+ points and 10+ boards
• Only player ranked in the top 10 in the country in both scoring and rebounding
• Fifth nationally in kenpom offensive rating (117.3)
• Eighth in NCAA in double-doubles (11), despite missing five games
• 16th in NCAA in field goal shooting at 58.9%

Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the 2021-22 season thus far, the Late Season Watch List is comprised of 20 student-athletes who are front-runners for the sport's most prestigious honor.

Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 Watch List
Max Abmas, Oral Roberts
Ochai Agbaji, Kansas
James Akinjo, Baylor
Paulo Banchero, Duke
Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
Zach Edey, Purdue
Collin Gillespie, Villanova
Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
Jaden Ivey, Purdue
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
Johnny Juzang, UCLA
E.J. Liddell, Ohio State
Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona
Isaiah Mobley, USC
Keegan Murray, Iowa
David Roddy, Colorado State
Jabari Smith, Auburn
Drew Timme, Gonzaga
Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky

Players not chosen to the late season list are still eligible for the Wooden Award National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Nearly 1,000 voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games. The Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced the week of the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2022 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Wendy's following the NCAA Tournament in April.