The entire country might have to learn how to pronounce his name soon too. (CO-burn, FYI.)
Illinois freshman center Kofi Cockburn swept the Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Week awards this week after posting three double-doubles during the first three games of the Illini’s homestand.
Cockburn averaged 17.7 points and 14.7 rebounds while shooting 57.9 percent as the Illini won all three games — including a monstrous 120-71 rout of Hampton on Saturday. But his personal highlight of the week came against The Citadel when Cockburn set an Illinois freshman record with 18 rebounds in a single game, ending the night with a photo with Deon Thomas.