Terrence Shannon Jr.’s number 0 jersey will hang in the rafters at the State Farm Center

After much speculation by Illinois fans on social media, athletics director Josh Whitman told reporters Thursday that Terrence Shannon Jr.’s No. will hang in the rafters of the State Farm Center.

“Given the season he (Shannon) had, one of the great seasons in the history of our program, it was clear to anyone who follows college basketball that he was one of the top 10 players in the country – probably one of the top two or three players from the country,” Whitman said.

Shannon averaged 23 points per game during his final season of college basketball and broke an Illinois men’s basketball record for most points in a season, finishing the year with 736 points. The former Illini star was also named the Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player after Illinois won the title and led his team to an Elite Eight finish in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005.

However, Shannon’s name entered controversy when he was suspended for six games due to rape allegations stemming from a trip he took to Lawrence, Kansas, in September 2023. Shannon filed a lawsuit against the university and the judge granted him an injunction, allowing him to return to playing. After a nearly six-month legal battle, Shannon was found not guilty by a jury last week.

According to Whitman, Shannon was not named as a consensus All-American despite his stellar performances on the field due to his unresolved charges. Being selected as a consensus All-American is a criterion for honoring an Illinois basketball player’s jersey. However, the recent clearing of Shannon’s name opened the doors for an exception, allowing his jersey to join an exclusive club of Illinois basketball legends, including Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu and three-time NBA All-Star Deron Williams, above the court in the State Farm Center.

“We’re excited to grant an exception there and look forward to celebrating him once he gets an idea of ​​where he’ll be and what his schedule looks like. We let our fans thank him for everything he has done to move this program forward. Whitman said.

The university received a lot of criticism from fans on social media when Shannon was suspended in December, and there has been much debate over whether the right decision was made to have him go to trial with active criminal charges, but no completed hearing or trial. Whitman acknowledged that he and his staff may want to change student-athlete misconduct before school starts in August.

“We are working with various groups on campus, campus advocates, in an effort to determine what, if any, changes would be appropriate for the policy,” Whitman said. “We will most likely take a slightly modified approach as we enter the new year.”

Shannon becomes the 36th men’s basketball player to have his jersey honored in Illinois. He is expected to be selected anywhere from the mid-first round to the early second round in the 2024 NBA Draft next week.

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