Illinois returned to the Elite 8 for the first time since 2005 thanks to the performance of Terrence Shannon Jr., who starred for Brad Underwood’s squad at the guard spot. Shannon Jr. made the most of his transfer to Champaign, setting career scoring marks in each of his seasons. Here’s how he measures up heading into the 2024 NBA Draft.
Terrence Shannon Jr. Draft Profile
Shannon Jr. was the driving force behind Illinois’ rise this season, averaging 23 points per game on 47/36/80 shooting splits. He was a headache for even the best defensive teams thanks to his ability to drive the ball and finish through contact. His energy level never seemed to wane, and he has the size to be a solid combo guard in the NBA.
Strengths
He can hit from anywhere on the floor and if he connects on a couple triples early, watch out. Shannon Jr. had the ability to completely take the game away from his opponents, and his tournament showing was fantastic until the Illini ran into the UConn buzzsaw. Shannon Jr.’s defensive chops aren’t bad either, although that wasn’t on display as much this season as it was when he was with Texas Tech.
Weaknesses
The most obvious concern here is the off-court stuff. Shannon Jr. was acquitted of the rape allegations he faced but it was a concerning saga during the season and distracted from the team. The NBA has had several incidents over the last few seasons of abuse and domestic violence, so teams have to be very careful when drafting a player with some character concerns. On the court, Shannon Jr.’s release might be more susceptible to blocks against bigger defenders. As mentioned above, his defense did drop off a bit over his two seasons at Illinois.
Player comparison: A bigger Anfernee Simons
The trajectories are different here, as Shannon Jr. spent five seasons in college while Simons jumped directly to the pros from high school. However, the progression has been similar when it comes to scoring. I could see Shannon Jr. having a similar impact, although he’s likely to come off the bench given his draft projections at the moment. He could be in the running for Sixth Man of the Year if he gets enough playing time.