Two Illinois basketball stars selected in recent 2024 NBA Draft

It's that time of year, the college basketball season is behind us and we start looking at which Illinois basketball players will be selected in the upcoming NBA Draft.

Good news for the Illini program and fans: Two stars from this season's roster were selected in a recent 2024 NBA Mock Draft that Bleacher Report released this week. Let's take a look at the only two Illini on the list.

Round 1, Pick 21: Terrence Shannon, Jr. | New Orleans Pelicans

Terrence Shannon Jr. was the first of the two Illini taken off the board. He would go on to play for the up-and-coming New Orleans Pelicans.

This would be a great scenario for Shannon, as the Pelicans are coming off a postseason. Shannon would get the opportunity to play with the likes of Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram, barring any offseason trades.

There's a chance that Shannon could challenge Herbert Jones, who averaged 11 points and three rebounds this season, for the starting small forward spot. Otherwise, Shannon would likely still get plenty of playing time in the rotation.

Shannon's first-round projection is largely due to his dominant March Madness run, where he averaged 27.8 points per game in the Illini's seven postseason games, including a 40-point outburst against Nebraska in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.

However, Shannon is due to stand trial in June on a rape charge in Kansas. Needless to say, his future in the NBA could be significantly affected by the verdict in that case. He has pleaded not guilty.

Round 2, Pick 55: Coleman Hawkins | Los Angeles Lakers

This would be a real opportunity for Coleman Hawkins. Not only would the big man get the chance to play with the man many consider to be the greatest of all time, LeBron James, but he would also get to learn from one of the most dominant big men of this generation, Anthony Davis.

Sure, Hawkins' game is different from Davis', as Hawkins is more of a perimeter player, but it would benefit him to learn under a nine-time NBA All-Star.

Shannon and Hawkins would be the eighth and ninth Illini basketball players selected in the NBA Draft in the last 19 years.