Illinois basketball main scorer Terrence Shannon Jr. returned to the courtroom for the primary time since late December on Sunday. He obtained a standing ovation from the Combating Illini crowd.
Shannon, who led the staff in scoring with a median of 21.7 factors per recreation, was suspended indefinitely after being arrested on a felony rape cost. The alleged incident occurred on Sept. 8 whereas he was visiting Lawrence, Kansas for a soccer recreation.
A girl instructed police that Shannon touched her inappropriately earlier than he sexually assaulted her on the bar. He was then booked for “rape; sexual activity with out consent and use of power.”
His suspension was handed down by Illinois’ Division of Intercollegiate Athletics on Dec. 28. Athletic director Josh Whitman mentioned on the time that Illinois and its DIA have “proven again and again that we have now zero tolerance for sexual misconduct.”
Though Shannon maintains his innocence, he was faraway from all staff actions.
Terrence Shannon Jr. has returned.
The fifth-year senior, who transferred in 2022 after three years at Texas Tech, was again on the courtroom for Sunday’s faculty basketball recreation towards Rutgers. It was his first motion since Dec. 22.
Combating Illini followers welcomed him again with a loud standing ovation.
Shannon was not allowed again on the courtroom as a result of he was cleared of the fees. That will nonetheless occur, however it has not but.
Somewhat, he was granted a short lived restraining order towards the college.
The federal choose’s choice put a pause on the college’s indefinite suspension ruling and allowed him to return to the staff. Shannon was instantly reinstated to full standing as a student-athlete.
His attorneys initially requested the injunction earlier this month and claimed that the varsity made a “rush to judgement” and used an “unfair” course of to find out that Shannon can be suspended. Decide Colleen Lawless of america District Courtroom of the Central District of Illinois allowed the TRO request on Friday after figuring out that his suspension will trigger “hurt” to him and his skilled future in basketball.
The Plaintiff has established that he has clearly ascertainable rights that want safety and there may be some chance of success on the deserves.
The Courtroom additional finds that Plaintiff has no ample treatment at regulation and can undergo irreparable hurt with out an injunction. The potential hurt to Plaintiff outweighs any hurt to the College. The general public curiosity will not be harmed by granting injunctive reduction to permit for added procedural safeguards whereas he’s presumed harmless of the felony prices […]
Subsequently, Plaintiff Terrence Shannon, Jr.’s Verified Movement for a Preliminary Injunction is granted. It’s hereby ordered that: Defendant, The Board of Trustees of the College of Illinois, and all of its officers (together with, however not restricted to, Defendant Timothy Killeen), administration, staff, models, divisions, associates, and different brokers, are hereby enjoined from persevering with to droop Plaintiff from the basketball staff pursuant to the [Division of Intercollegiate Athletics] Coverage […]
Defendants are enjoined from suspending Plaintiff from the basketball staff with out a minimum of affording him the protections of the [Office of Student Conflict Resolution] Coverage. The obligations of Defendants pursuant to this Order are to be construed as broadly as potential. This Order shall stay in impact till modified or terminated by a subsequent order.
— Decide Colleen Lawless in her ruling
Shannon didn’t begin on Sunday. He got here off of the bench and scored 16 factors with 4 assists and one rebound throughout a dominant win. Illinois defeated Rutgers 86-63.
Shannon waived his proper to an preliminary listening to in Douglas County, Kansas sooner or later previous to the choose’s ruling. His preliminary listening to within the felony case is ready for Feb. 23.
