Terrence Shannon Jr. Explained

Terrence Shannon Jr.
Position:Small forward / shooting guard
Height Ft:6
Height In:6
Weight Lb:215
League:NBA
Team:Minnesota Timberwolves
Number:00
Birth Date:30 July 2000
Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
High School:
College:
Draft Year:2024
Draft Round:1
Draft Pick:27
Draft Team:Minnesota Timberwolves
Career Start:2024
Years1:–present
Team1:Minnesota Timberwolves
Highlights:

Terrence Edward Shannon Jr. (born July 30, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Early life

Shannon was born to Treanette Redding and Terrence Shannon Sr. His mother and father separated when he was two years old.[1] Shannon has four siblings through his mom and three through his dad.

High school career

Shannon was interested in basketball from a young age, especially after experiencing a growth spurt early in high school.[2] He attended Lincoln Park High School in Chicago, averaging 15 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game as a senior.[3] Shannon was also a receiver on the school's football team.[4] After having no NCAA Division I basketball scholarship offers by the end of his senior season, he reclassified to the 2019 class and moved to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.[5]

Recruiting

His success with Mac Irvin Fire on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit drew attention from many college programs.[6] A four-star recruit, he originally committed to DePaul before switching his commitment to Texas Tech.[7] He chose the Red Raiders over offers from DePaul, Florida State, Georgetown and Illinois.[8]

College career

Texas Tech (2019–2022)

2019–20: Freshman season

Shannon entered his freshman season as one of Texas Tech's starting guards. On December 4, 2019, Shannon recorded a freshman season-high 24 points and eight rebounds in a 65–60 overtime loss to DePaul.[9] As a freshman, he averaged 9.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, earning Big 12 Conference All-Freshman Team honors.[10]

2020–21: Sophomore season

Entering his sophomore season, Shannon was named to the Julius Erving Award watch list.[11] On January 30, 2021, Shannon registered his first career double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds against LSU. Going into the Big 12 tournament, the Red Raiders were 9–8 in the Big 12, good enough to earn the 6-seed. During their quarterfinal matchup against Texas, Shannon played 34 minutes making four three-point field goals in way of an 18-point outing. Despite his performance, Texas Tech was eliminated by a score of 67–66. The Red Raiders were then granted the 6-seed in the South Region of the NCAA tournament. In their Round of 32 matchup against Arkansas, Shannon scored 20 points despite the Red Raiders being eliminated.

As a sophomore, Shannon averaged 12.9 points, four rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. For his efforts, he earned Third-team All-Big 12 honors. On April 8, 2021, Shannon declared for the 2021 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility.[12] He ultimately returned to Texas Tech for a third season.

2021–22: Junior season

On November 7, Shannon was suspended indefinitely due to an eligibility review.[13] He was reinstated on November 17, after missing three games.[14] As a junior, he averaged 10.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and two assists per game. On March 25, 2022, Shannon entered the NCAA transfer portal.[15]

Illinois (2022–2024)

2022–23: Senior season

On April 29, 2022, he committed to Illinois.[16] After his first season at Illinois, he declared for the 2023 NBA draft and played in the NBA draft combine. He later withdrew from the draft and returned to Illinois for a second season and his fifth season overall.

2023–24: Fifth Year season

Shannon played 11 games for the Illini before being suspended for six games, Shannon was considered a front-runner for the National Player of the Year award before his suspension.[17] After a preliminary injunction was granted, his suspension was ended and he resumed playing the rest of the season.

Following the season's end and the Not Guilty verdict, it was announced that Shannon's jersey would be honored by the University.[18]

Records

Big Ten Conference

Illinois Fighting Illini

Professional career

Minnesota Timberwolves (2024–present)

On June 26, 2024, Shannon was selected with the 27th overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2024 NBA draft[19] and on July 8, he signed with Minnesota.[20]

Awards and honors

NCAA

Career statistics

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20| style="text-align:left;"| Texas Tech| 29 || 21 || 23.5 || .470 || .257 || .829 || 4.1 || 1.0 || .9 || .4 || 9.8|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| Texas Tech| 28 || 13 || 26.7 || .448 || .357 || .756 || 4.0 || 1.4 || 1.1 || .1 || 12.9|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22| style="text-align:left;"| Texas Tech| 26 || 20 || 25.0 || .455 || .384 || .784 || 2.6 || 2.0 || .8 || .2 || 10.4|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23| style="text-align:left;"| Illinois| 31 || 30 || 32.1 || .442 || .321 || .790 || 4.6 || 2.8 || 1.3 || .5 || 17.2|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24| style="text-align:left;"| Illinois| 32 || 31 || 33.9 || .475 || .362 || .801 || 4.0 || 2.3 || 1.0 || .9 || 23.0|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 146 || 115 || 28.5 || .459 || .347 || .793 || 3.9 || 1.9 || 1.0 || .4 || 15.0

Personal life

Rape allegations

In the early morning of Saturday, September 9, 2023 (following the prior day's Kansas-Illinois football game), Shannon allegedly penetrated Madi Neill with his fingers at the Jayhawk Cafe.[21] Months later, on December 27, Shannon was arrested on a warrant issued by the Douglas County (Kansas) District Attorney for the charge of rape; sexual intercourse without consent, and use of force against a victim.[22] [23] Shannon posted bail the following day and was suspended by the team.[24]

No bar employees, security staff, friends, or roommates other than the Neill’s best friend were interviewed.[25] The police took surveillance footage from the Jayhawk Cafe, however, the spot where the alleged crime took place occurred off-camera. Neill’s drinking the night of the alleged incident also varied between what she told the police and what was filed in her sexual assault exam report, but the police did not seek receipts to verify.[26] After completing the sexual assault exam the following day, Neill and her friend returned to the Jayhawk Cafe, one night after the alleged incident took place.[27]

Kansas players Kevin McCullar Jr. and Hunter Dickinson, as well as Graduate Assistant DyShawn Hobson and Illini player Justin Harmon testified that they did not witness Shannon interact with Neill the night of the alleged incident.[28]

Following a series of back-and-forth legal actions between Shannon and the University,[29] on January 19, Shannon was granted a preliminary injunction against the University of Illinois, thus making him eligible to play.[30] The University ultimately dropped its investigation with Shannon dropping his lawsuit as a result.[31]

On May 2, the DNA results were released through a hearing by Shannon's defense. Most of the DNA samples were unusable and one sample contained a mixture of at least three males, none of whom were Shannon.[32]

On June 7, Shannon's defense successfully motioned to include evidence of a third-party incident committed by Arterio Morris, who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman at the Jayhawk Cafe less than two weeks prior to the alleged incident involving Shannon. On June 10, jury selection took place with a jury of eight men and seven women selected to serve as the 12 jurors and three alternates.[33] During the trial, Neill testified that Shannon grabbed her wrist when previously she had said no such grabbing occurred as her hands were occupied by her phone and drink. Neill’s friend corroborated the grabbing, despite not mentioning it in previous testimony. On June 13, Shannon was acquitted on both charges.[34]

Deputy DA Joshua Seiden, who took over the case from Chief Assistant DA Jennifer Tatum after she resigned in March,[35] left the office a week following the verdict.[36] On August 6, the Douglas County DA, Suzanne Valdez, lost her reelection campaign by finishing third in the Democratic primary.[37]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shannon TRO Motion.
  2. Web site: Langston . Michael . Four-star forward T.J. Shannon and family rave about FSU visit . . January 2, 2021 . June 25, 2018.
  3. Web site: Steeno . Paul . From pariah to hot commodity, Shannon's recruiting story has happy ending after slow start . . January 4, 2021 . August 16, 2018.
  4. Web site: O'Brien . Michael . Terrence Shannon's love of football pays off for Lincoln Park . . January 4, 2021 . September 14, 2017.
  5. Web site: Henricksen . Joe . Lincoln Park's Terrence Shannon commits to DePaul . . January 4, 2021 . August 12, 2018.
  6. Web site: Snow . Brian . Shannon sees recruitment explode this spring . . January 4, 2021 . May 11, 2018.
  7. Web site: Rose . Aaron . Four-star prospect Shannon endures long road, commits to Texas Tech . . January 4, 2021 . March 11, 2019.
  8. Web site: Golan . Ben . Top 60 Wing Terrence Shannon Jr. commits to Texas Tech . . January 4, 2021 . March 11, 2019.
  9. Web site: Silva Jr. . Carlos . Tech's Shannon shows out in return to hometown . . January 2, 2021 . December 7, 2019.
  10. Web site: Mainville . Ryan . Terrence Shannon Jr. placed on Julius Erving Award Watch List . . January 2, 2021 . November 4, 2020.
  11. Web site: Silva Jr. . Carlos . Sophomore guard Shannon, Jr. garners award, Texas Tech releases nonconference schedule . . January 2, 2021 . November 4, 2020.
  12. Web site: Nash . Branson . Texas Tech wing Terrence Shannon declares for NBA draft, doesn't sign agent . . June 16, 2021 . April 8, 2021.
  13. News: Borzello . Jeff . Texas Tech's Terrence Shannon Jr. out indefinitely during eligibility review . November 10, 2021 . . November 7, 2021.
  14. News: Texas Tech clears Terrence Shannon Jr. to resume playing in basketball games after eligibility review . November 18, 2021 . . . November 17, 2021.
  15. Web site: Geoghegan . Zack . March 25, 2022. Texas Tech's Terrence Shannon Jr. in transfer portal, hears from Kentucky . April 29, 2022 . On3.com . en.
  16. Web site: Terrence Shannon Jr. is transferring to Illinois . KCBD.com . April 29, 2022 . April 29, 2021.
  17. Web site: Hochman . Benjamin . 2023-12-24 . Hochman: Is Illinois' Terrence Shannon Jr. one of nation's best players? MU's Gates says so. . 2024-06-14 . STLtoday.com . en.
  18. Web site: Whitman: Illini will raise Terrence Shannon' Jr.'s jersey to State Farm Center rafters .
  19. Web site: Matt. Zahn. Adam. Harrington. Alex. Ortiz. Illini star Terrence Shannon Jr. selected by Minnesota Timberwolves in NBA Draft. CBSNews.com. June 26, 2024. June 27, 2024.
  20. Web site: Timberwolves Sign Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr.. NBA.com. July 8, 2024. July 17, 2024.
  21. Web site: Sworn affidavit filed in the State of Kansas vs Terrence Shannon Jr. Case . January 9, 2024 .
  22. News: Illinois basketball player arrested on suspicion of rape in Lawrence. Lawrence Journal-World. December 28, 2023. December 28, 2023.
  23. News: Illinois' Terrence Shannon Jr. charged with rape, suspended. Myron. Metcalf. ESPN. December 28, 2023. December 28, 2023.
  24. Web site: Illinois basketball's Terrance Shannon Jr. suspended, faces rape charges in Kansas. December 28, 2023. Collin. Cramer.
  25. Web site: Opening statements heard in Terrence Shannon Jr. criminal rape trial. June 11, 2024 .
  26. Web site: Defense questions depth of police investigation during rape trial for Illinois basketball player. June 11, 2024 .
  27. Web site: Who has testified in Terrence Shannon Jr.'s trial?. June 12, 2024 .
  28. Web site: At rape trial of Illinois basketball star Terrence Shannon, jury hears from accuser’s friend, other players. . June 12, 2024 .
  29. Web site: Terrence Shannon files for restraining order against Illinois. January 9, 2024. Myron. Medcalf.
  30. Web site: Judge Ends Suspension of Illinois Basketball Star Terrence Shannon Jr., Who Faces Rape Charge.
  31. Web site: U of I drops investigation of Terrence Shannon Jr., takes no disciplinary action . April 10, 2024 .
  32. Web site: Terrence Shannon Jr.'s attorneys file motion to exclude state's DNA testing in criminal case. May 2, 2024 .
  33. Web site: Jury trial of Illinois basketball player accused of raping woman at Lawrence bar set to begin Tuesday . June 10, 2024 .
  34. Web site: Mittal . Sahil . 2024-06-13 . Not guilty: Illinois star Terrence Shannon Jr. acquitted by jury in rape case . 2024-06-16 . The Daily Illini.
  35. Web site: In denying continuance in rape case, judge appears to question why DA can't handle a case on her own .
  36. Web site: Deputy DA Seiden no longer working in DA's office; preliminary hearing in murder case delayed .
  37. Web site: Dakota Loomis unseats DA Suzanne Valdez in landslide primary win.