New Orleans Pelicans: Two 2nd Round Projects from U of Illinois

Kofi Cockburn: Center, University of Illinois

Strengths: Rim protection, Physicality

Weaknesses: Shooting range, Lateral Movement

Key Statistic: 8.8 rebounds, 1.4 blocks per game as a freshman

How he fits on the New Orleans Pelicans:

If you lined all of the 2020 NBA prospects up and made teams choose based solely on looks, then Kofi Cockburn might be the number one pick.

The freshman center out of the University of Illinois already has an NBA frame, in fact, most NBA players wish they were built like Cockburn.

The 7-foot, 290 lb. Jamaican has the body of a young Shawn Kemp or Dwight Howard. He is strong, and has more fast-twitch muscle mass than practically any prospect in any sport, including the NFL.

This alone will get him looks from NBA teams when and if the draft finally happens.

Cockburn was gifted in track and field, soccer and cricket as well as basketball and was considered a four-star recruit when he signed with the University of Illinois.

Cockburn won the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year award after posting 13.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.

The Big Ten was the best conference in the country going into March Madness, though the conference is not necessarily loaded with frontline NBA talent.

Cockburn showed he can protect the rim, run the floor and will probably get even stronger once he gets in an NBA training room.

There is a lot to like about Cockburn as a rim protecting center who can catch lobs and run the floor.

But Cockburn does have some glaring weaknesses. He has no post game and when I say “no post game” I mean none. He is as raw as raw can be when it comes to offensive skills.

Though Cockburn occasionally shows nice touch for a guy his size, he has no shooting range at all and may never develop it.

He does shoot 67% from the line, not great by any means, but his shot doesn’t have any major mechanical problems and at times it is even smooth.

Cockburn could develop a 12-15 foot jumper at some point in his career, but he never projects as a guy who will score much.

In other words, he has the potential to be the perfect center for the New Orleans Pelicans, who have plenty of scoring and need guys who can play defense and protect the rim.

Cockburn gets into foul trouble a lot, has iffy hands and won’t score much, but he has the potential to be a plus-defender and rebounder in the NBA.

Imagine a less-refined Derrick Favors and you are close to where Cockburn is as a player.

He’s definitely a project, but one that could pay off big for a team looking for a rim protecting center to develop.