Cockburn officially an Illini

CHAMPAIGN — Illinois men's basketball fans waited, some impatiently, nearly a week for good news on the recruiting front in the spring signing period. They got it Tuesday night.

Kofi Cockburn became the first official member of Illinois' 2019 recruiting class when he announched he had signed his National Letter of Intent. The 7-foot, 290-pound center will fill a position of need for the Illini in the 2019-20 season.

Cockburn finished his high school career this past season at Oak Hill Academy (Va.) after previously playing at New York City powerhouse Christ The King. Cockburn helped the Warriors reach the semifinals of the GEICO High School Nationals and averaged 14.8 points on 62 percent…