The Minnesota Timberwolves did thorough research on Terrence Shannon Jr. before the NBA draft. They found many people supporting his character. This made them more confident in him as a player. His final season at Illinois was clouded by a rape charge, but he was recently cleared of it.
“His reputation off the court is excellent. Talk to the coaches at Texas Tech. Talk to the coaches at Illinois. They don’t say good things. They say amazing things,” said Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly after selecting Shannon with the 27th overall pick in the first round on Wednesday night.
“He faced a really unfortunate situation, but he showed toughness by continuing to play well for coach Brad Underwood.”
Shannon was declared not guilty two weeks ago after a short jury deliberation in Kansas. He was accused of sexual assault during a visit to Kansas for a football game between Illinois and Kansas last September.
Connelly said the Timberwolves did extensive research on Shannon. They were interested in his experience, strength, and ability to score from anywhere on the court.
“Often, when you’re accused, people assume you’re guilty. Fortunately, he went through the legal process. He chose to go to trial because he knew he was innocent,” Connelly said. “It’s unfortunate what he went through, but it shows what kind of person he is and his ability to play well despite a tough distraction.”
Shannon, who is 6-foot-6 and turns 24 next month, can play both guard positions. He started his college career at Texas Tech before transferring to Illinois. He helped lead Illinois to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament before they lost to eventual national champion Connecticut.
