May 4 – The NBA announced Friday afternoon that 78 players have been invited to the 2024 NBA Draft Combine, scheduled for May 12-19 at Wintrust Arena and the Marriott Marquis in Chicago. That group will likely grow, with a select number of players from the 2024 NBA G League Elite Camp also invited to participate in the combine. The G League Elite Camp takes place May 10-11 at Wintrust Arena.
Coleman Hawkins and Terrence Shannon Jr. of Illinois received combined invites. Hawkins had the best season of his career in 2023-24 for the Illini, averaging 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 37 percent from three-point range. The 6-foot-1 forward was an All-Big Ten Third Team selection.
Shannon was selected All-Big Ten First Team and Third Team All-American after recording 23 points, four rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. The 6-6 guard was suspended for six games during the season after being arrested in late December on rape charges stemming from an alleged incident in Lawrence, Kansas, in early September. Shannon will have a preliminary hearing in that case on May 10 in Douglas County (Kan.) District Court.
Four other Big Ten players earned combined invites. That group includes Minnesota guard Cam Christie, Purdue center Zach Edey, Iowa guard Payton Sandfort and Indiana center Kel’el Ware.
The Illini also played eight other Combine invitees, including Connecticut’s entire starting lineup, Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan, Alex Karaban, Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer. Other familiar names are Marquette forward Oso Ighodaro, Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht and Marquette guard Tyler Kolek.
