Illinois star guard Terrence Shannon Jr. was found not guilty of charges of rape and sexual battery on Thursday. This verdict comes as a significant relief for Shannon, who has faced substantial public scrutiny since the allegations surfaced. Meanwhile, NBA legend LeBron James quickly defended Shannon Jr. against his detractors.
LeBron took to his X account to express his frustration over the negative attention Shannon Jr. received and voiced his support for the young star.
“To my Young Terrence Shannon Jr! Love and Salute you! Proud of you!! God is Good! The apologies should be 30X louder than the hate he got but we know how it goes. Anyways back to the regular scheduled program,” LeBron posted.
The charges against Shannon stemmed from an incident that occurred at a bar on September 8, 2023. Following the alleged incident, the accuser identified Shannon from an online team roster and subsequently contacted the police. Shannon consistently denied the allegations throughout the legal process.
Despite his denials, the University of Illinois suspended Shannon, citing their zero-tolerance policy on sexual conduct. This suspension resulted in Shannon missing six crucial games.
Illinois Coach Expresses Joy Over Terrence Shannon Jr.’s Legal Victory
This news of Terrance Shannor Jr. has brought a significant sense of relief to his supporters, especially given his status as a projected top-25 pick in the upcoming NBA draft.
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The verdict was particularly welcomed by Illinois head coach Brad Underwood. Underwood expressed his happiness and support for the young star.
“I am thrilled for Terrence with the news of today’s verdict. 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,” Underwood said.
With the legal matter resolved, Shannon can now focus on his future in professional basketball. His attorney confirmed that Shannon will begin attending multiple workouts with pro teams starting Friday.
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