Even though the University of Illinois dropped its investigation, former star guard Terrence Shannon Jr. was ordered to stand trial on a rape charge in Kansas.
Shannon was suspended from the basketball team in December when he was initially charged, stemming from an alleged incident in September.
He was reinstated in January after missing six games after a federal judge granted his motion for a temporary restraining order against the school.
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Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr. reacts after hitting a basket and being fouled during the second-round game of the NCAA Tournament against Duquesne at CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, on March 23 in (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
However, a Kansas judge ruled Friday that probable cause existed for a trial.
“Our legal team is neither surprised nor disappointed by the outcome of this event,” Mark Sutter, one of Shannon's attorneys, said in a statement, via ESPN. “A preliminary hearing is a procedural process that simply talks about the threshold of evidence and whether there may be an issue of fact for a jury. It has nothing to do with guilt or innocence. Those issues will be decided at trial, and “We look forward to our day in court.”
Douglas County prosecutors charged Shannon on Dec. 5 with rape or an alternative charge of sexual assault. The complaint says the accuser was born in 2005.
The alleged victim told police that Shannon pulled her toward him, put his hands under her skirt and touched her sexually. She said the bar was so full she couldn't “do anything,” according to an affidavit.
Illinois Fighting Illini guard Terrence Shannon Jr. brings the ball up court during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, on December 9, 2023. (Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Shannon pleaded not guilty Friday and testified that he never touched the woman.
As a fifth-year senior last season, Shannon led the Illini in scoring (23.0 points per game) and helped them reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before losing to eventual champion UConn.
Shannon transferred to Illinois from Texas Tech prior to the start of the 2021-22 season.
Terrence Shannon Jr. of the Illinois Fighting Illini handles the ball during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland, on December 2, 2022. (G Fiume/Getty Images)
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Shannon was projected to be a first-round pick before the legal case. The trial will begin on June 10, approximately two weeks before this year's NBA Draft.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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