The Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Terrence Shannon Jr. with the No. 27 pick of the 2024 NBA draft.

Minnesota Timberwolves Illinois guard terence shannon jr on Wednesday with the No. 27 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft. Shannon, a two-time All-Big Ten first team selection at Illinois, is the Illini’s second draft pick in four years, joining the Ayo Dosunmu (No. 38 overall in 2021).

• The 23-year-old Shannon finished third in the nation in scoring (23.0 points) last season while shooting 47.5% from the field and 36.2% from three. He also averaged 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.9 blocks.
• ESPN ranked Shannon as the No. 26 overall pick in the draft and the No. 6 shooting guard in the class.
• Shannon was acquitted earlier this month of rape charges stemming from an alleged incident in Kansas in June. Shannon testified on the stand in the three-day trial, and the jury returned a verdict of not guilty after 90 minutes of deliberations.

why it matters: Shannon is the first Illinois basketball player to be drafted in the first round. meyers leonard Drafted 11th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft. He is the fourth Illinois basketball player to be taken in the first round, joining Leonard in the last 20 years. deron williams (number 3 in 2005) and luther head (No. 24 in 2005).

• According to Spotrac, Shannon will make $2.63 million guaranteed in his first season and $2.76 million guaranteed in his second season. He then has team options for $2.8 million and $5.1 million for the next two seasons.

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How does he fit: Shannon’s toughness and two-way ability should serve him well with an Anthony Edwards-led team that is trying to compete for an NBA championship. Shannon is a physically imposing guard who could have the biggest impact on defense at the next level. At Illinois, he often screened the opposing team’s best guard, but he may have been even better in the NBA, as he would not spend so much energy creating his own offense as a complementary scoring piece in the NBA. Shannon may be an awkward shooter, but he has a quick release and has shot 34.7% for his career. He’s a rookie driving to the rim, although he doesn’t find it as easy to finish at the rim or get foul calls as in the NBA. But Shannon is transformative because of his blend of speed, strength and explosive athleticism.

The coach said: “I think defensively, he’s a veteran player. I think defensively he’s got a chance to make an immediate impact on the NBA game,” the Illinois coach brad underwood Said. “I think his ability to guard the ball, his athletic ability, his physical ability, 6-6, 220, great athleticism. But I think the one thing that everybody will fall in love with very quickly is his Competitive spirit. I mean, if you’re playing UNO with him, he’s trying to blow your head off, let alone on the court, so I think as teams get to know him, whichever team drafts him will “He’s definitely going to come out as a guy that can get an easy basket in transition with that speed, and he’s obviously proven he can make the three, so that’ll be a highlight.”

“Just a young man who handled everything so professionally and was so tough-minded and as caring as anyone could be during this process. I’m not going to sit here and try to put words in his mouth “It couldn’t have been an easy situation, but boy, his teammates were there to support him, he was there to support his teammates, and it’s going to be a great week for Terrence Shannon.”

What does it mean: Shannon is one of the best development success stories of Brad Underwood’s tenure. shannon was a good player texas tech But was largely a 3-and-D option, averaging 11.0 points over three seasons with the Red Raiders as mostly a catch-and-shoot option. At Illinois, Shannon became a primary playmaker and one of the nation’s best scorers, averaging 20.2 points over two seasons. After missing games each season at Texas Tech due to injury, Shannon also maintained a clean bill of health at Illinois, thanks in part to Illinois strength and conditioning coach Adam Fletcher.

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