Back to the Chicago Bulls Newsfeed

Hit hard by Kobe Bryant’s death, Illinois’ Ayo Dosunmu keeps first-place team rolling

CHAMPAIGN — Ayo Dosunmu opened Illinois’ 59-51 victory over Minnesota Thursday with a three-pointer from the right wing. The sophomore from Morgan Park pulled up off the dribble and buried it with about an inch separating his noggin from the outstretched hand of defender Gabe Kalscheur.

Dosunmu’s idol, Kobe Bryant, would’ve approved.

“Every time I step on the court from now on, I’ll think about him,” said the player known throughout Illini Nation as simply Ayo. “I’ll think about Kobe. I’ll think about his daughter Gigi. I’ll think about his mentality.”

Dosunmu has been crushing it of late for the Big Ten’s hottest team, playing the best basketball of his life as the No.