LeBron James was amongst these to specific assist for former College of Illinois males’s basketball star Terrence Shannon Jr. after he was acquitted of rape.
James addressed his publish to Shannon, whom he referred to as his “Younger [king],” saying he was “proud.”
“The apologies ought to be 30X louder than the hate he acquired however we all know the way it goes,” James tweeted. ”Anyhow again to the common scheduled program. Nice days forward.”
On Thursday, Shannon Jr. was discovered not responsible of rape and aggravated sexual battery by a Lawrence, Kan., jury, which deliberated for greater than 90 minutes, in accordance with Mitch Gilfillan of Quinn Johnston Legislation.
Others across the basketball group lauded Shannon, together with former teammate Coleman Hawkins and head coach Brad Underwood.
The guard was initially suspended by the college on Dec. 28 after a warrant for his arrest was issued by the Douglas County District Legal professional in Kansas.
Shannon was accused of rape after visiting a bar following the Illinois vs. Kansas soccer recreation on Sept. 8 in Lawrence.
The 23-year-old missed six video games because of his suspension however was deemed eligible to play after suing the college and receiving a short lived restraining order.
Shannon returned Jan. 21 vs. Rutgers, when he scored 16 factors in solely 28 minutes.
Simply two days later, he performed his first highway recreation at Northwestern College’s Welsh-Ryan Area, the place he was met with deafening boos and chants of “No means no.”
The Illinois guard acquired comparable remedy in highway atmospheres by means of the top of the 2023-24 season.
Shannon was practically unstoppable within the postseason, catapulting Illinois to a Huge Ten Event title by scoring 102 factors within the crew’s three convention match video games.
The Illini reached the Elite Eight for the primary time since 2005 earlier than falling to eventual champion UConn.
Regardless of the crew’s success, Shannon by no means spoke to the media after he got here again from suspension.
Now having been cleared of rape expenses, Shannon could also be a first-round decide within the 2024 NBA Draft, which begins June 26.
