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The Big Ten released its weekly award winners for week three of the regular season and Illinois ended up sweeping the awards. Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn was named Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Week. Obviously, it’s quite an honor to win both in a single week.
Cockburn arrived on campus this summer as one of the more high regarded recruits in the league. He was rated as a four-star prospect by 247Sports and as a top 50 prospect nationally. Fans expected him to hit the ground running, but probably not on the level he has shown through seven games this season.
To date, Cockburn is averaging 15.3 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. During last week, he posted three double-doubles in three Illinois home victories during a record-setting week. And perhaps the highlight was 18 points and 17 rebounds against The Citadel. This is the second time he has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week and the first time he has earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors.
Congratulations are in order for Cockburn. Don’t be surprised if he ends up showing back up on this list given how he has played to date.