Tennessee’s basketball coaching staff is working diligently to try and bring in a talented and highly-rated 2019 recruiting class. And on Monday, they extended an offer to one of the top centers in the cycle.
The Vols sent out an offer to four-star center Kofi Cockburn on Monday. Tennessee’s staff offered him on the same day that Kansas did, and he holds offers from Syracuse, Cincinnati, UConn, Georgetown, Indiana, Providence, LSU, UCLA, VCU, and many others as well.
Kansas & Tennessee have now offered 6’11” Kofi Cockburn’19 @kxng_alpha of @NYRhoops & @ctkroyals #KUbball #Vols @TheAthleticCBB pic.twitter.com/oyxC2U3CUS
— Andrew Slater (@Andrew__Slater) April 23, 2018
Cockburn is the No. 41 overall player and No. 13 center in the 2019 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He plays for Christ the King Regional in Middle Village, New York and is the 3rd-best player in the state by those same rankings.
The 6-foot-11, 248 pound center has turned heads recently and looks to dominate on the summer circuit this year. He was a force last year in Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League, averaging 11.6 points and 9.2 rebounds in just 19 minutes a game over 16 contests in that summer league.
A look at Cockburn’s highlight film shows that he’s not just a bruiser down low; he actually has a nice jumper too. He’s a monster down low and finishes at the rim with authority, and he already has a great frame and body type. But what sets him apart from other players at his position is that he can hit jump shots away from the basket too.
Tennessee is making center and power forward a big priority in the 2019 class. The Vols will have to replace Kyle Alexander after this season, and there’s a chance Grant Williams could leave early for the NBA after this year too.
So far, the Vols have offered 10 centers and five power forwards in the 2019 cycle. Tennessee’s staff has offered 33 players overall in this class, which means nearly half of those offers have been sent out to big men.
Expect the Vols to continue to pursue Cockburn along with four-star D.J. Burns and five-star Isaiah Stewart at the position. Fast-rising three-star Jason Jitoboh of Chattanooga is another name to watch there as well.
