In his first public comments before his sexual assault trial in June, former Illinois star Terrence Shannon Jr. said Tuesday during the NBA draft combine that he understands the “serious” charges against him.
Shannon, once projected as a first-round pick, is being looked at as a potential NBA prospect, which could depend on the outcome of his June 10 trial on charges of felony rape and felony aggravated sexual assault. Last year, a woman accused Shannon of sexually penetrating her with his fingers at a bar in Lawrence, Kansas.
Shannon was arrested, charged and suspended by Illinois amid a school investigation in December. However, after missing six games, Shannon received a temporary restraining order from a federal judge and returned to the court for the remainder of the season. The school dropped its investigation in April.
“I'm looking forward to my day in court,” he said.
A Kansas judge decided last week at Shannon's preliminary hearing that there is enough probable cause for Shannon to stand trial. Shannon pleaded not guilty at the hearing.
On Tuesday, Shannon said he's invested in the NBA draft process and the work that goes into it. At the combine, Shannon added that he is the best “two-way” player in the draft.
“Obviously, it's a really serious accusation and I'm aware of it and I can't go into a lot of detail about it, but I'm just focused on what I can control and that's basketball and what I do on the court, in the weight room. , with my family”, he told the WCIA in Champaign, Illinois.
The accuser in the case found Shannon through a Google search after the incident and then reported it to local police, who then filed a warrant for Shannon's arrest in December.
At the time, Shannon was a projected first-round pick in next month's NBA draft. Her attorneys said her rape trial in June will conclude before the draft on June 26 and 27.
Before Shannon's preliminary hearing last week, her attorneys requested that DNA evidence in the case not be admissible at trial. They also said, in a statement, that the judge ruling that the trial will move forward has no bearing on Shannon's guilt or innocence in the case.
Shannon said he can't control people's opinions of him as he faces serious charges. He also said that he is “fine” mentally.
“I feel like people are going to have their opinion of me no matter what,” Shannon said Tuesday. “It doesn't matter what you're going through or if you're not going through anything. You can't let other people's opinions affect you.”
