Speculation has pointed to Bronny James as a natural possibility for the Lakers when they're on the clock at No. 17 overall in the NBA Draft. Does LeBron James have his eye on another option as well?
James tweeted his support for Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr. on Friday, a day after Shannon was found not guilty of felony rape in Kansas. Shannon was suspended by Illinois immediately after charges were filed in December, but he successfully sued to have the ban blocked and missed only six games.
Shannon now has his sights set on the draft, and James' comments are a sign that the NBA is ready to welcome Shannon into the league following his legal battle.
Here's a closer look at James' comments and the charges Shannon faced.
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LeBron James-Terrence Shannon Jr. comments, explained
James tweeted his strong support for Shannon on Friday, telling the Illini star that "great days" are ahead after Thursday's not guilty verdict.
"The apologies should be 30X louder than the hate he got but we know how it goes," James said.
To my Young 👑 Terrance Shannon Jr! Love and Salute you! Proud of you!! God is Good! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 14, 2024
The apologies should be 30X louder than the hate he got but we know how it goes. Anyways back to the regular scheduled program.
Great days ahead! ☀️☀️☀️✨✨✨
Shannon regularly faced chants of "no means no" on the road after he was reinstated by Illinois, and his NBA future was threatened by the case before it finally came to a conclusion.
Like James, Shannon is a Klutch Sports client. The agency had to deal with the uncertainty that came with the investigation and trial throughout much of the pre-draft process.
Shannon commanded attention during his college career by averaging 23.0 points and shooting 47.5 percent from the field during his senior season at Illinois. The fifth-year senior started his career at Texas Tech, reaching the Sweet 16 with the Red Raiders and the Elite Eight with the Illini.
While Shannon is set to turn 24 in July, NBA teams have become more comfortable with older, experienced players in recent years. Shannon could step in and play an immediate role off an NBA bench as a rookie, given his experience and advanced offensive game. James' support is one more sign that Shannon will at least get an opportunity at the NBA level after career-threatening legal trouble.
Here are more details on the charges Shannon faced and why the jury returned a not guilty verdict.
Terrence Shannon Jr. charges
Shannon was charged in the state of Kansas with one count of rape or an alternative count of sexual battery in late December, stemming from an incident that occurred when the Illinois standout was near the University of Kansas campus for a football game.
"Shannon is charged with rape, as defined under applicable Kansas law," the police release said at the time.
Shannon was promptly suspended from all team activities at Illinois, but he sued to have the suspension lifted pending the outcome of the case and won. Because there was virtually no chance the case would go to trial before the end of the season, the decision all but ensured Shannon's place on the team through the NCAA Tournament. The Illini would reach the Elite Eight for the first time in 19 years.
It was alleged that Shannon inappropriately touched a woman in a bar, and there was enough credibility to her accusations at the time for charges to be brought against the NBA hopeful. The trial, however, didn't offer much evidence for the jury to work with.
The alleged victim was professionally tested shortly after she said she was assaulted by Shannon, but his DNA was not found. Cameras at the bar also did not capture any interaction between the two. The prosecution said the alleged victim was able to identify Shannon by looking up Illinois' roster, but with no DNA match, no video evidence and a lack of witnesses to any alleged interaction, their case largely leaned on that revelation.
The jury returned a not guilty verdict after less than two hours of deliberations, allowing Shannon to move forward with the NBA Draft process with the legal situation finally behind him.
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Terrence Shannon Jr. mock draft
Shannon is a projected mid-to-late first-round pick. He's projected to be selected No. 15 overall by the Heat in SN's Kyle Irving's two-round mock draft.
Other mock drafts have Shannon going later in the first round, while Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman projects the guard as a high second-round pick at No. 33 overall.
Teams are often wary of players who are the subject of a criminal investigation, even without charges or a conviction. NFL offensive tackle La'el Collins famously went from a potential first-round pick to undrafted in 2015 because he was questioned in connection with a murder case. Collins was not a suspect and was cleared shortly after the draft before signing with the Cowboys, but the uncertainty was enough for all 32 teams to avoid him.
James' comments, along with the cut-and-dry nature of the case, are indications that Shannon won't face the same scrutiny as he prepares for the NBA Draft. The face of the NBA expressing his support for Shannon isn't insignificant as the Illinois star works to clear his name.
