Could Illinois' Terrence Shannon Move Up In What Some NBA Execs Are Calling 'Worst Draft' In Recent Memory?

Anthony Pasciolla | Apr 1, 2024

Mar 30, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (0); Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports / Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

With the Illinois Fighting Illini's season over, attention for guard Terrence Shannon Jr. swings to the NBA Draft.

Shannon is a projected lottery pick but could leap into the single-digit picks in a draft that multiple veteran NBA executives are reportedly calling "the worst draft they have ever seen."

"Multiple veteran NBA execs say the same thing about this draft," reporter Jeff Goodman wrote. "It’s the worst draft they have ever seen."

It's hard to compete with next year's draft class featuring the likes of five-star Duke commit Cooper Flagg and Rutgers commit wing Ace Bailey. The 2023 draft also featured generational talents Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) and Scoot Henderson (Portland Trail Blazers). This season's group is highlighted by French center Alexandre Sarr, Kentucky freshman Rob Dillingham, and explosive wing Zaccharie Risacher.

Shannon's most dominant stretch of his senior year came in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments, where he averaged roughly 34 points. He also thrived on the Illini's road to the Elite Eight, where he scored more than 20 points in three of their four games. These performances in the highest-pressure situations, along with his strong experience at 23 years old, are likely to attract attention from numerous NBA front offices.

Here's what NBADraft.Net wrote about Shannon: "Bigtime scorer with a variety of ways to gets points … Absolute bully of a lefty wing … Defenders opposite Shannon risk being put on a poster … Looks to rip the rim off. One of the more ferocious attackers and dunkers in college basketball …  Relentless attacker who is on another level in terms of strength compared to peers. Even in the NBA, strength, especially on the drive, is likely to continue to be his calling card."

Anthony Pasciolla is a contributor for Illini Now. He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or on Instagram @anthony.pasciolla