Courtesy Illinois Athletics

March 5, 2022

Kofi Cockburn courtesy Joe Clark, IlliniGuys

Champaign, ILL.– Fighting Illini center Kofi Cockburn is on the 2022 National Ballot for the John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy's, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Saturday on ESPN College GameDay.

This is the second year in a row that Cockburn is on the national ballot after being selected to the Wooden Award All-American Team last season.

The Big Ten leads all conferences with five selections on this year's 15-player ballot.

2022 Wooden Award National Ballot

• Ochai Agbaji, Kansas
• Paulo Banchero, Duke
• Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
• Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
• Collin Gillespie, Villanova
• Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga
• Jaden Ivey, Purdue
• Johnny Juzang, UCLA
• Walker Kessler, Auburn
• E.J. Liddell, Ohio State
• Bennedict Mathurn, Arizona
• Keegan Murray, Iowa
• Jabari Smith, Auburn
• Drew Timme, Gonzaga
• Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky

Kofi Cockburn 2021-22 Highlights

• Only player in the nation averaging 20+ points and 10+ rebounds
• Wooden Award National Ballot
• College Hoops Today First-Team All-American
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Finalist
• Naismith Trophy Midseason Team
• Fifth in NCAA with nine games of 20+ points and 10+ boards
• 11th in NCAA in scoring at 21.0 ppg
• 10th in NCAA in rebounding at 10.5 rpg
• 10th in NCAA in field goal shooting at 60.1%
• 10th in kenpom player of the year standings
• 11th nationally in kenpom offensive rating (115.4)
• 16th in NCAA in double-doubles (14), despite missing five games

All balloted players have been certified by their university to meet or exceed the qualifications for the Wooden Award as set forth by Coach Wooden when the Award was established. The qualifications include: candidates must exhibit strength of character, both on and off the court; candidates must be full-time students in an accredited NCAA college or university; candidates must be making progress toward graduation and have a cumulative 2.00 grade point average since enrolling in their school; candidates must contribute to team effort; candidates must excel in both offense and defense; and candidates should be considered on their performance over the course of the entire season.

Voting will take place March 14-21, and voters take into consideration a player's entire season of play, as well as the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The finalists for the 2022 Wooden Award presented by Wendy's will be announced on March 30.

For up-to-date information, visit woodenaward.com and follow the Wooden Award on Facebook and @WoodenAward on Twitter and Instagram.