Former Illinois forward/guard Terrence Shannon Jr., who made his name on the national stage at the NCAA tournament earlier this year and a potential first-round NBA draft pick, was found not guilty Thursday on a rape charge after a jury in Douglas County, Kansas, spent less than two hours deliberating the verdict.
The 23-year-old Shannon was accused of committing sexual assault in September 2023, while visiting Kansas for a football game between the Illini and the Jayhawks. He was charged with rape or an alternative count of sexual battery, which led to him being suspended for six games and away from all team activities. A federal judge later reinstated him, ruling that his civil rights had been violated.
Shannon testified on his own behalf that he joined two roommates and a few Kansas players at a bar on September. 8, 2023, but he only consumed a few drinks and recalled everything that went down that night. Shannon said he was not aware of the rape allegation levied against him until several weeks later, and that he had never seen the 18-year-old woman who had accused him until the case had begun.
The woman told the authorities that she was a patron at the bar when a man, whom she later identified as Shannon, grabbed her buttocks and reached under her skirt to touch her. The woman claimed that the bar was packed, so she was unable to move.
Shannon testified that a woman close to him had been raped and he would never treat another woman the same way.
Shannon’s attorneys referred to the allegations as “blind accusation” and questioned the purity of the motives by the woman. They also criticized the prosecutors in Douglas County for a lack of evidence and a Lawrence detective for the meticulousness of his investigation.
Embed from Getty Images“We’re happy with the outcome,” said Mark Sutter, one of Shannon’s attorneys. “Terrence Shannon Jr. finally got his day in court. We denied the allegations back in September and on that date, we pledged that one day soon, we would have our day in court and we did. And we’re happy with the outcome. And, at the end of the day, I think the public at-large owes Shannon Jr. an apology.”
Many scouts had been keeping a close eye on the proceedings ahead of the NBA draft, which is scheduled for June 26-27.
The 6-foot-6 Shannon, who can play point guard and shooting guard, played five seasons for Illinois. He was at his best this past season, averaging 23 points for a team that reached the Elite Eight before losing to eventual national champion, the UConn Huskies.
“I am thrilled for Terrence with the news of today’s verdict,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. “Under six months of intense scrutiny, Terrence has shown tremendous composure, maturity, and focus. He can now put this behind him and move forward with his life. I, along with everyone in our Illinois Basketball program, will continue to offer Terrence our full support as he looks to fulfill his NBA dreams.”
Shannon was voted first-team All-Big Ten and a third-team All-American by The Associated Press.
