Illinois star Ayo Dosunmu to return for junior season

The first-team, All-Big Ten guard said in a video posted Friday on Twitter that playing in the NBA is his dream. “But first, I need that national championship. Year 3,” he added.

By Sun-Times wires

Ayo Dosunmu averaged 16.6 points — fifth in the conference — and shot 48.4 percent last season.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois basketball star Ayo Dosunmu plans to return for his junior season rather than turn pro.

The first-team, all-Big Ten guard said in a video posted Friday on Twitter playing in the NBA is his dream. “But first, I need that national championship. Year three,” he added.

Dosunmu declared for the draft in April. He averaged 16.6 points — fifth in the conference — and shot 48.4 percent.

The Illini went 21-10 overall and 13-7 in Big Ten play in coach Brad Underwood’s third season, and were in line for their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2013 when the season ended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Illini center Kofi Cockburn, another early entrant for the NBA Draft, told CBS Sports that he’ll announce his plans Saturday. He might return, too, considering his name hasn’t appeared in any mock drafts. The NCAA deadline to withdraw from the draft is Monday.

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