Terrence Shannon Jr., a standout guard for Illinois and a potential first-round NBA Draft pick, was acquitted of rape and sexual battery charges on Thursday. A Douglas County, Kansas, jury delivered the unanimous not-guilty verdict after 90 minutes of deliberation.
The charges stemmed from an incident at a bar on September 8, 2023, while Shannon was in Lawrence, Kansas, for the Kansas vs. Illinois football game. Following the charges on December 5, Shannon was suspended by the University of Illinois, citing their zero-tolerance sexual conduct policy, which led him to miss six games. Shannon successfully sued the university for reinstatement, claiming due process was not granted.
After turning himself in on December 28 and posting a $50,000 bail, Shannon penned a heartfelt 1,366-word letter to the University of Illinois student-athlete conduct panel, asserting his innocence and requesting his suspension be overturned. “As to the criminal charges against me, I am declaring my innocence, as I did back in September,” Shannon wrote. He emphasized his full cooperation with the legal process and expressed concern that the charges might impact his NBA Draft prospects if not resolved promptly.
Terrence Shannon eventually returned to play on January 21, following more than two additional weeks of suspension. His 2023–24 season saw him achieve remarkable success, finishing second in points per game (23.0) among Big Ten players as a fifth-year senior. Currently ranked No. 29 on CBS Sports’ NBA Draft Prospect Rankings, Shannon is projected as a potential late first-round pick in the upcoming June 26 draft.
Shannon’s acquittal allows him to focus fully on his basketball career and his aspirations of playing in the NBA. “Going forward, I want nothing more than to play basketball for the University of Illinois, and I remain hopeful that my due process rights will be honoured and allow for a full reinstatement while this case is pending,” Shannon expressed in his letter. Now, with the legal case behind him, Shannon can pursue his dream without the cloud of legal uncertainty.
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