Cockburn: I want my legacy to be beyond basketball
JAMAICAN BASKETBALLER Kofi Cockburn says that he is determined t o ensure his legacy goes beyond basketball but to improve the lives of his countrymen and women.
Cockburn, 22, will hope his name is called when the 2022 NBA draft commences next month in Brooklyn, New York. Cockburn declared for the draft last month, forgoing his final season of eligibility after a three-year stay with the University of Illinois. He has since been invited to this week’s NBA Combine in Chicago, which starts tomorrow and where he will be working out for all 30 NBA teams.
However, Cockburn’s vision is more than just fulfilling his NBA dream. In an interview yesterday with Forbes.com, Cockburn said he wants to be known, not just for his basketball prowess, but also for helping to give the younger generation a chance to make their own dreams come true.
“I think, respectfully, I’ve always wanted to hear my name called on draft night but, if I could sacrifice that for the better outcome of being able to provide for the younger generation, I think I would make that sacrifice,” Cockburn said.
“We’re trying to break that stereotype where people see the other Kofi. The Kofi outside of the court where I’m a voice in my community, somebody that people look up to, somebody that gives people hope, somebody that’s willing to go back to their community and do different stuff, whether its influence the kids, motivate them, give them opportunities to come to the US and basically pursue the same dreams that I did, or choose their own path.”
Cockburn says that he is committed to creating a pathway for young Jamaicans to have better opportunities, similar to the way he benefitted when he moved to the United States at 16.
GIVING BACK TO JA
“Jamaica’s going to get everything from me,” he said.
“I’m planning on doing so much as far as community centres, giving kids the opportunities to have a higher education by giving them the necessities like computers and stuff that I didn’t have growing up, giving them opportunities to come to the US, whether that’s to be an athlete or to go to school here.
“Either way, you get a good education and you get an opportunity to focus in and get a college degree or excel in whatever way you want.”
In his final collegiate season, Cockburn averaged 20.9 points and 10.6 rebounds for Illinois last season, en route to being named first-team All-Big Ten, and finished as a finalist for several player-ofthe-year awards. As he prepares for the next phase of his career, he wants to show the NBA scouts how much his game has evolved to fit the modern demands of centres in the NBA.
“I definitely (want to) show them I can play in the new NBA where bigs are doing dribble hand-offs, making decisions. Whether it’s making the right pass, making the right drive, it’s definitely showing off my touch and my mid-range. Those are the main points that I’ve been working on,” Cockburn said.
With that focus, Cockburn says that he intends to ascend to the highest level to facilitate the change that he wants to make in the lives of his people.