Illinois Guard Terrence Shannon Jr. Found Not Guilty in Rape and Sexual Battery Case

After being charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual battery, Illinois star guard Terrence Shannon Jr. was found not guilty on Thursday, June 13. The verdict was delivered by a jury in Douglas County, Kansas, after deliberating for 90 minutes.

Shannon was charged with rape or an alternative count of sexual battery, a felony, on Dec. 5 following an incident at a bar on Sept. 8, 2023, while in Lawrence, Kansas, for the Kansas vs. Illinois football game. Due to the charges, he was suspended by the university and subsequently missed six games. Shannon then sued the school to return to play while the criminal proceedings unfolded. Amid emotional scenes in the Kansas court, Shannon was declared not guilty, eliciting immediate reactions from his legal team, family, and friends in Lawrence.

University Suspension and Legal Action

As a consequence of the charges, Illinois suspended Shannon citing a zero-tolerance sexual conduct policy, leading to him missing one month of action and six total games. His attorneys filed a restraining order against the University of Illinois, seeking immediate reinstatement while alleging a lack of due process. Shannon turned himself in to authorities on Dec. 28 and was released on $50,000 bail.

On Jan. 2, Shannon penned a 1,366-word letter addressing the University of Illinois student-athlete conduct panel, proclaiming his innocence and requesting the suspension to be overturned. He missed over two more weeks before returning to the floor on Jan. 21.

In the letter, Shannon declared his innocence regarding the criminal charges and expressed his cooperation with the legal process. He also expressed concerns about the time the criminal justice system takes, mentioning the possible impact on his collegiate career and NBA aspirations due to the pending case.

Shannon's Performance and NBA Draft Prospects

Throughout the 2023-24 season, Shannon had a standout year for the Illini, finishing second among Big Ten players in points per game (23.0) as a fifth-year senior. His performance has positioned him as the No. 29 prospect on the latest CBS Sports NBA Draft Prospect Rankings, potentially making him a late first-round pick in the upcoming draft scheduled to commence on June 26.