Author: staff

Sports

It took 10 years, but the Chicago Sky’s Rebekah Gardner is relishing her 1st WNBA chance as a 31-year-old rookie

WNBA roster spots are so scant that every opportunity a player receives is vital to continuing a domestic career.To put that harsh reality into perspective, 108 prospects entered this year’s draft. As of Thursday, only 136 active players are on WNBA rosters.AdvertisementSo when Chicago Sky coach/general manager James Wade decided to retain 31-year-old rookie Rebekah Gardner over players with league experience, some were surprised. Through three games, all questions about Gardner’s capability of handling life in the WNBA have been silenced.“I feel like we hit the lottery,” Wade said. “She definitely completes us for what we want to be and it’s been good so far. She’s proven she is a WNBA player.”AdvertisementAfter playing 10 years overseas, Gardner scored 14 points in her WNBA debut against the New York Liberty. She is averaging 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists through three games, and opponents have had no answer for her scoring off the dribble.For Gardner, a shot in the WNBA was a long time coming.“I would say, ‘Yes,’ ” Gardner said when asked if she thought she wasn’t ever going to make it in the league. “I just love basketball. I made the decision if an opportunity comes my way, I’ll take it. There’s a lot of great players who aren’t in the WNBA, but I used this opportunity to come out and take it.”Seattle Storm center Ezi Magbegor, left, peers around the defense of Chicago Sky guard Rebekah Gardner, center, during the second half, May 18, 2022, in Seattle. (Ted S. Warren/AP)Gardner’s 10-year odyssey to crack a WNBA roster started in 2012 at UCLA. The Bruins went 14-16 her senior year and didn’t make the NCAA Tournament. Gardner felt her draft stock fell by not being on the national stage, and she ultimately went undrafted.At 22, Gardner played in Israel for a year before Atlanta Dream coach Michael Cooper invited her to training camp. She was in camp for only two weeks before pulling both quads.In 2017, the Sky brought her in but didn’t have room on the roster. She admitted she didn’t play her best during that training camp but had a revelation about what she wanted out of her career.“I decided after those two experiences I would only go to camp if there was a real opportunity to make the team,” Gardner said. “If somebody liked me or was interested in me, they would reach out. I just love basketball, kept playing overseas and if something were to come up, I would go — like what happened with this situation.”The Sky on March 9 waived recently signed forward Crystal Bradford after she suffered a right foot injury during the offseason. It was a brutal hit for the Sky from on-court and financial standpoints: WNBA players with more than three years of league experience make a minimum of $72,141 per season, but those with two years or fewer make a minimum of $60,471.AdvertisementBradford played two seasons in the WNBA and would’ve commanded a higher contract if it wasn’t for an off-the-court incident last May. Dealing with the league’s hard cap, Wade had to search for an effective wing to back up Kahleah Copper at a low price.Wade lives in Southern France in the offseason and was located only 1 hour, 45 minutes from Gardner’s overseas team, Spar Girona, in Spain. He routinely travels around Europe to check up on players, something that allows him to find hidden gems.Wade said he doesn’t remember the exact game in which he first saw Gardner but was impressed enough to go see her two more times. He immediately was impressed with her quickness going against WNBA players such as Copper, Gabby Williams, Arike Ogunbowale and former Sky All-Star Diamond DeShields.“My whole mindset going into free agency knowing we probably couldn’t afford to keep Diamond was, ‘How do we replace that speed and athleticism?’ ” Wade said. “I saw (Gardner) once and a light bulb went off. I knew we had something there. The wing market was only dried out depending on where you were looking.”Chicago Sky guard Rebekah Gardner, right, is defended by Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd during the first half, May 18, 2022, in Seattle. (Ted S. Warren/AP)Wade has been known for taking gambles in the past. He detonated mock drafts when he selected Katie Lou Samuelson with the fourth pick in 2019 and 19-year-old Shyla Heal with the eighth pick in 2021. Despite the criticism of those moves, Wade’s big swings as general manager have paid off. He took risks in acquiring often-injured Azurá Stevens in 2020, traded Heal for guard Dana Evans in the middle of last season and signed Kahleah Copper to a max contract the year before she evolved into an All-Star and Finals MVP.Wade swung for the fences again and told Gardner if she came to the United States she would have a spot on the roster. Her $60,141 salary this season fit neatly into the cap, and the early returns on Wade’s investment have been promising. She has a comparable skill set to Copper as a slasher who can initiate offense. In what was a gaping hole behind the Sky’s All-Star backcourt, they have found their centerpiece off the bench.Advertisement“She fit in so well with us right from the beginning,” guard Courtney Vandersloot said. “Right off the plane, she came in, knew what she was good at and was able to do it. It was huge for us for her to step in. We rely a lot on her, and she makes the right play all of the time. She’s been playing professional basketball for a very long time and fits perfectly within our system.”It’s one thing to make the league and another to stay in it. Gardner knows that as well as anyone, and she’s relishing every moment with the Sky.“It’s been 10 long years,” she said after her May 11 debut. “It’s nice when your hard work begins to pay off.”James Kay is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.

Sports

Observations from the NBA draft combine in Chicago, including Scotty Pippen Jr. balancing expectations and a legacy

Scotty Pippen Jr. knows the power that comes with a name — especially at the NBA combine this week in Chicago.In his early days playing basketball in Highland Park, Pippen said it was a challenge to carry the family name of Scottie Pippen, the other half of the legendary duo who lifted the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships.AdvertisementEvery time he lined up on the court, Pippen said parents pointed him out to their kids, encouraging them to bring their toughest game against the Hall of Famer’s son.“Growing up, I’ve always had the name,” Pippen said. “It always was a pressure on me, even being a little kid growing up in Chicago. I’m just used to it. I’m my own person. … I go out there and I compete. My dad’s not out there with me. At the end of the day, it’s my own legacy.”AdvertisementPippen isn’t the same player as his father — at 6-foot-3, he stands 5 inches shorter, playing shooting guard rather than small forward — but he said his father’s guidance has been a key as he prepares for the NBA draft.Scotty Pippen Jr. of Team Curry (40) aims for the basket as Terquavion Smith of Team Weaver (5) defends during a scrimmage at the NBA Draft Combine at Wintrust Arena Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)And Pippen still feels a connection to his father’s legacy despite potentially becoming a second-generation NBA player.“We were both underdogs,” Pippen said. “Even though I led the SEC in scoring, I’m still not highly scouted (and) I wasn’t highly talked about.”With plenty of attention on his family lineage, Pippen declined to dive into the most common debate for casual and die-hard NBA fans alike — who is the greatest player of all time?Despite the longtime partnership and rivalry between his father and Michael Jordan, Pippen said his favorite player has always been Kobe Bryant. But without seeing the Chicago legend play in person, Pippen said he couldn’t offer a verdict on the GOAT debate.“I can’t answer that,” Pippen said. “I haven’t seen Michael Jordan play.”It’s become increasingly common for players projected to be selected in the top tiers of the draft to opt out of the combine to avoid the risk of injury.This year’s opt-out list included some of the top talent entering the draft: Paolo Banchero (Duke), Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga), Jabari Smith Jr. (Auburn), Jaden Ivey (Purdue), Shaedon Sharpe (Kentucky) and Ochai Agbaji (Kansas).AdvertisementExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 34Scotty Pippen Jr., right, of Team Curry defends Marcus Sasser of Team Weaver during a scrimmage at the NBA draft combine on May 19, 2022, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)The combine began Wednesday with a series of workouts to test players’ physical capacity. Here are the top athletes from measurements and drills.Height: Mark Williams, Duke, 7-foot-2Wingspan: Williams, 7-6.5Maximum vertical leap: Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee, 41.5 Standing reach: Williams, 9-9Standing vertical leap: E.J. Liddell, Ohio State, 35.5 AdvertisementLane agility test: Julian Strawther, Gonzaga, 10.3 secondsShuttle run: Dyson Daniels, Ignite (G League), 2.81 secondsChicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Three-quarter sprint: Ryan Rollins, Toledo, 3.07 secondsWith top players opting out of scrimmages, Thursday and Friday allowed players surrounded by less hype to make their case to jockey for spots in the draft. Here are a few players to watch after impactful outings at the combine.Terquavion Smith, North Carolina State: Smith did enough on the first day of scrimmaging — scoring 17 points on 6-for-17 shooting — to feel comfortable sitting out the second day. His shot-making and decision-making in the pick-and-roll showed promise, which paired well with measurements such as a 38.5-inch vertical leap.Trevion Williams, Purdue: It’s easy to get lost in the mix when playing next to Jaden Ivey, who is projected as a top-five pick. But with Ivey opting out, Williams excelled at the combine. Despite struggling with shooting — going 6-for-24 in two days of scrimmages — Williams racked up 23 rebounds and 13 assists with a facilitating style that could fit well in an NBA offense.AdvertisementJalen Williams, Santa Clara: At 6-6 with a wingspan just over 7-2, Williams’ length creates an intriguing prospect as a versatile player who can switch between guard and forward. He scored 19 points in Friday’s scrimmage with decisive playmaking that popped.Christian Braun, Kansas: Despite being labeled as deceptively athletic when he entered the draft, Braun showcased strength and bounce in Wednesday’s drills. But the scrimmages allowed him to stand out, creating a profile as a utility player who can score from anywhere on the court while providing a defensive boost.Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga: Despite sitting out Thursday with a quad injury, Nembhard made the most of Friday’s scrimmages with a 26-point, 11-assist performance.

Lifestyle

Choose lilacs carefully, or end up with high-maintenance shrub

The sight and fragrance of lilacs, blooming in shades from deep violet-purple to pink to white, are among the splendors of spring.If you’d like to have that splendor in your yard, be careful about the lilac you choose, said Julie Janoski, Plant Clinic manager at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. “They’re glorious for about two weeks in May, but the rest of the time, old-fashioned lilacs can be a lot to handle,” she said.AdvertisementThe most familiar species is common lilac (Syringa vulgaris), a plant from the Balkans that is popular around the world and has been planted in Chicago-area gardens since the 19th century. Many decades-old lilacs survive today.Mature shrubs are often 15 to 20 feet high and just as wide. “They are vigorous, spreading shrubs that need a lot of space,” Janoski said.AdvertisementPalibin Meyer lilac (Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’) blooms slightly later and can tolerate a bit more shade than old-fashioned common lilac (Syringa vulgaris). (John Hagstrom/Chicago Botanic Garden)If a lilac needs to be pruned, do it soon after the shrub finishes blooming. “If you wait too long, you will reduce the spring bloom next year,” she said.That’s because lilacs develop next year’s flower buds over the course of each summer. “You have a window of three or four weeks to prune,” Janoski said. “After that, you’ll be cutting off next spring’s flowers.”Lilacs try to form clumps by sending up new shoots from spreading roots. “Prune out the suckers to keep the lilac under control,” she said.An old lilac often becomes a dense tangle of thick, gnarly old stems, dead wood and new shoots. This crowding can impede circulation and encourage powdery mildew, a common problem with older varieties of lilac. Opening up the interior of the shrub by pruning can improve air flow and restore vigor.There are two ways to tame a tangled old lilac: renewal pruning and rejuvenation pruning.For a gradual approach that keeps lilac blooms coming every spring, try renewal pruning. First remove all the dead wood, cutting dead stems as low as you can. Then remove the thickest, oldest living stems, pruning them off within 1 or 2 inches of the ground. “Take out only one-third of the living stems,” Janoski said. The remaining stems will support the shrub with their sun-gathering leaves and will bear spring blooms.In each of the next two years, remove one-third of the oldest stems, and keep removing dead wood. By the fourth year, all the stems will be younger and more vigorous. “After that, check each year and prune as necessary to keep the big tangle from returning,” she said. “Always remove the oldest stems, and make sure you never take out more than a third of the plant.”For a more drastic, less painstaking approach, try rejuvenating the shrub. Cut off all the stems — the whole plant — within 1 or 2 inches of the ground. Next year, new stems will sprout, but they won’t have blooms. “You’ll lose a year of flowers,” Janoski said. The first blooms will appear the following spring, and it will take a few years for the shrub to get back to its full size.AdvertisementNot all lilac problems can be solved by pruning. For example, it won’t restore bloom to a shrub that is in too much shade.Lilacs in nature only grow in full sun in well-drained soil, according to Kris Bachtell, vice president of collections and facilities at the Arboretum. Without full sun, they won’t bloom.In gardens, old lilac shrubs that were planted in full sun may now be in shade because trees have grown overhead or newer buildings now block the sun’s rays. “There’s nothing you can do to make a lilac bloom if it doesn’t have enough sun,” Janoski said. “It’s just a large nonflowering green shrub.”For gardeners who don’t have the space or patience for an old-fashioned lilac, several more manageable species and cultivated varieties are available. These smaller lilacs usually do not require as much pruning as old-fashioned lilacs, needing only occasional pruning for shape.Meyer lilac (Syringa meyeri) grows 6 to 8 feet high and wide. Although it blooms best in full sun, it can tolerate part shade. It blooms slightly later than the common lilac. The most common cultivar is Palibin.Manchurian lilac (Syringa patula) is known mainly for one cultivar, Miss Kim. It has fragrant light purple flowers that fade to light pink on a plant that is 5 to 8 feet tall.AdvertisementReblooming lilacs are hybrids that bloom again in late summer or early fall, although not as lushly as in spring. The Bloomerang series includes several cultivars, including Bloomerang Purple (Syringa ‘Penda’); Bloomerang Dark Purple (Syringa x ‘SMSJBP7′); and Bloomerang Dwarf Pink (Syringa x ‘SMNJRPI’). They are all smaller than the common lilac, but sizes vary among cultivars, so research each plant and choose the right size for your yard.For tree and plant advice, contact the Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum (630-719-2424, mortonarb.org/plant-clinic, or plantclinic@mortonarb.org). Beth Botts is a staff writer at the Arboretum.

Lifestyle

Ask Amy: Woman’s sexuality becomes factor in breakup

Dear Amy: I have been in a 20-year relationship with a wonderful man who has been there for me — through thick and thin.We raised my children together and are now enjoying our grandchildren.AdvertisementI have been very unhappy in the relationship for the last few years because I’ve fallen out of love with him.I don’t want to have the grandbabies lose out on a wonderful grandfather because he will leave the country if we split up, but I want to be happy, too.AdvertisementI’ve always liked women, but I didn’t want my mother to take my children away from me if I lived my true self, so when I met him, and we decided to get together, I honestly wanted to grow old with him.Now my children are grown, and I feel like I deserve to be happy. I just don’t want to break a good man’s heart.How can I have both things that I want?– Lost in the ClosetDear Lost: You may not be able to have everything you want.Because of your life experience, you already know this, but the only way to find out what you can have is to start living your truth by being honest with your partner.You will then have to deal with his reaction to your disclosure (he may already suspect that you are attracted to women).I know of many instances where, relatively late in life, people choose to reconfigure their family system to accommodate less-traditional structures and situations.AdvertisementThere is no requirement that your partner should leave your family system – unless he wants to.I hope you will find a way to sincerely convey your desire to remain in a loving relationship with him so that he can remain an important member of the family he has been a part of for the past two decades.Dear Amy: I have planned a big party for my husband’s landmark birthday in two months.This is going to be a sit-down dinner. We invited 80 family members and close friends. About half the guest list is family. The rest are friends.I have had at least four people inform me that they will be bringing additional people, who they believed we would enjoy seeing.My husband has also had two friends ask if they could bring one of their adult children and possibly their kids’ spouses.AdvertisementHe told them he would talk to me and get back to them.We are so fortunate to have so many friends that want to share this celebration with us, but we had to draw a line, as we are not rich and also the venue has a limit of 85. We will be paying for this event.Neither of us want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but isn’t it rude and presumptuous to invite people to someone else’s party?What should we do?Should we just go along with it and hope we can accommodate everyone?One person who wants to bring his adult son (because he really likes my husband) made a snide remark about paying for their dinners.AdvertisementPlease advise me. I really don’t know what to do.– Losing SleepDear Losing Sleep: The last time this happened to me (and it happens to all hosts), I also lost sleep over the question of how to respond to people who wanted to bring extra guests – some of whom were people I’d never met.And then one day I woke up and decided that it was “no” day.I told people, “I’m so sorry — but it won’t be possible for you to bring an extra guest, but I hope you’ll still be able to come. Just let me know.”Every single person responded with a version of this: “OK, no problem. Hey, it doesn’t hurt to ask!”AdvertisementWhat people don’t realize is that when they ask, they shift the burden onto an already nerve-wracked host.Deliver your response quickly and cheerfully. Understand, too, that some people will drop out at the last minute, and some will bring extras, anyway.Dear Amy: “At a Loss in Colorado” shared some biographical essays, and then got angry when her friend didn’t offer comments about her writing.Ask AmyDailyNo-nonsense advice for better living delivered to your inbox every morning. For a limited time, sign up for the Ask Amy newsletter and get the book “Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from America’s Favorite Advice Columnist” for $5.While I agreed with your response, I believe you left something out: This friend might not have read the writer’s work at all.I know I wouldn’t.– HesitantAdvertisementDear Hesitant: The risk of pressing your writing on someone is that they won’t like it – or even read it.Got a question for Amy? Enter it here and we’ll send it to her.Sign up here to receive the Ask Amy newsletter to get advice e-mailed to your inbox every morning, and for a limited time — get the book “Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from America’s Favorite Advice Columnist” for $5.©2021 Amy Dickinson.

Sports

Will Zalatoris leads after the 2nd round of the PGA Championship, and Tiger Woods makes the cut — barely

TULSA, Okla. — The wind finally relented Friday in the PGA Championship. Will Zalatoris never did. From the fairway or the rough, Zalatoris kept hitting the golf ball on the button at Southern Hills and took advantage of gentler conditions late in the afternoon for a 4-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Mito Pereira of Chile.AdvertisementThe weekend will include Tiger Woods in his second straight major, a remarkable achievement in its own right.Playing on a battered right leg from his car crash 15 months ago, Woods was outside the cut line after a double bogey on the par-3 11th hole. He played the final seven holes with two birdies and a pair of 15-foot par saves for a 69 to make it with one shot to spare.AdvertisementBut he’s 12 shots behind Zalatoris, the 25-year-old from Dallas who is built like a 1-iron and could probably hit one flush with his eyes closed.Will Zalatoris walks on the fourth green during the second round of the PGA Championship Friday at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. Zalatoris ledsa by one entering Round 3. (Eric Gay/AP)No doubt, Zalatoris and his entire side of the draw was helped when wind that gusted over 30 mph Friday morning laid down over the final two hours.Bubba Watson had a shot at the first 62 in PGA Championship history. He missed from just inside 25 feet on the 18th hole and settled for the 18th round of 63 in this major and the third at Southern Hills. He joined Woods (2007) and Raymond Floyd (1982).Pereira also had a chance at 63, missing from 7 feet on the ninth hole to close his round.“I lucked out with the draw for sure. We played 11 on without any wind,” Zalatoris said. “When I got out of position, I got the most out of it.”He opened with a shot from the rough that tumbled across the length of the green to 2 feet. He hit another through a gap in the trees to 7 feet. Not only did he have a bogey-free card, all five of his birdies were inside 8 feet.Zalatoris was at 9-under 131.And all Justin Thomas could do was watch from the couch of his rental home in Tulsa.AdvertisementJustin Thomas watches his tee shot on the 17th hole during the second round of the PGA Championship on Friday at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. (Matt York/AP)Thomas did the heavy lifting in the morning, when the wind was raging and limbs were swaying. He dropped only one shot on his way to another 67 that set a daunting target for Rory McIlroy and everyone else in the afternoon.Thomas is three shots behind, with Watson right behind him.Of some two dozen players under par, only five came from the wave that played Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, the two windiest windows of the week.McIlroy got the good side of the draw and failed to seize on the moment. He didn’t make a birdie until the 13th hole. That was his only one in a round of 71 that left him five shots behind.Jordan Spieth, playing alongside McIlroy and Woods, finally got back to even par for the tournament until driving into the water on the 18th for a bogey and a 69. He was 10 shots behind in his bid for the career Grand Slam.The weekend will not include Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, who stumbled badly down the stretch and finished with a double bogey for a 75 to miss the cut — 4-over par — by two.AdvertisementScottie Scheffler watches his putt on the 15th hole during the second round of the PGA Championship on Friday at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. Scheffler missed the cut. (Eric Gay/AP)Jon Rahm thought he might have worked his way back into the mix with a 69 to get to 2-over 142, and he was skeptical about the forecast of wind abating.“They said the wind was going to go down this afternoon. No, it’s not. It’s Oklahoma,” Rahm said. “It’s going to stay just as windy as we had.”If only.Watson had never scored better than 68 in his previous 49 rounds in the PGA Championship. Then he dropped nine birdies and goes into the weekend with a chance.Zalatoris and Pereira, who led the Korn Ferry Tour a year ago, will be in the final group Saturday, two players still searching for their first PGA Tour title.Zalatoris has plenty of experience in the majors. He was runner-up in the Masters to Hideki Matsuyama in his debut in 2021. This is his eighth major, and he already has four top 10s.Advertisement“When I took the sole lead on 12, I told my caddie, ‘Let’s enjoy this,’ ” Zalatoris said. “In my first Masters, I was runner-up and I wanted to enjoy it. I’ll take that same attitude.”Woods looked to be headed home after his double bogey on the par-3 11th, where he went from the high grass framing a stream to the bunker on the other side of the green. And then he saved par from a bunker on No. 12, hit wedge to 4 feet for birdie on the par-5 13th, saved par with another 15-footer on the next hole and hit his best shot on the 16th to 4 feet.Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the 10th hole during the second round of the PGA Championship on Friday at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Eric Gay/AP)“I had to go grind and go to work, and I did,” Woods said. “Hopefully, I can get a hot weekend and you never know.”Hot is a popular term in these parts, particularly with memories of 100-plus degrees in August when the PGA was last at Southern Hills in 2007 and Woods won by two. For Saturday, the temperatures were forecast for the low 60s.

Sports

Kofi Cockburn out to prove NBA doubters wrong after the draft combine: ‘They have no idea what I’m capable of’

Kofi Cockburn knew he entered the NBA draft combine this week in Chicago with plenty to prove.After using the event as a growth experience last year, the former Illinois center is set on entering the NBA next season. And despite second-round projections and questions about his perimeter abilities, Cockburn believes he can carve out a place as a professional.Advertisement“A lot of people doubt my ability to adapt to the NBA,” Cockburn said. “You can put me in any situation and I can definitely contribute. … The NBA is a whole different ballgame. They have no idea what I’m capable of so they’ll always have doubt.”Cockburn declared for the draft after his third season at Illinois after averaging 20.9 points and 10.6 rebounds and being named an All-American for the second straight year. AdvertisementMeasuring 7 feet tall with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, Cockburn’s size was his most obvious advantage at the combine. With other top center prospect such as Chet Holmgren opting out of scrimmages to avoid injury, Cockburn towered over his opposition Thursday and Friday.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 34Scotty Pippen Jr., right, of Team Curry defends Marcus Sasser of Team Weaver during a scrimmage at the NBA draft combine on May 19, 2022, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)Cockburn idolized Shaquille O’Neal as a young player learning the game in Jamaica, and that hard-nosed physicality in the post dominates his style of play.“A lot of people tell me if it was the 1990s, I’d be drafted in the top 10,” Cockburn said with a laugh.But the center role has changed dramatically since O’Neal’s era, piling new expectations on big men.Cockburn isn’t a strong perimeter shooter, missing the only 3-pointer he attempted at Illinois. His agility also was a key emphasis for improvement throughout his collegiate career, seeing major improvement in his junior season. He still needs to develop that area of his game to succeed in the NBA, in which big men such as Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid regularly knock down 3s to stretch the court.Cockburn is still a top-15 center with second-round projections, but his stock could be limited by how the position has evolved.Wednesday’s workouts highlighted expected strengths and weaknesses for Cockburn. Despite going 14-for-25 in midrange shooting — tying for first in the drill — he went 14-for-25 (36th overall) in spot shooting. He also was one of the slowest players in the shuttle run (fourth-worst at 3.31 seconds) and lane-agility test (third-worst at 12.11 seconds).The two days of scrimmaging allowed Cockburn to showcase his abilities in the paint. He logged 11 points and 13 rebounds Thursday, then recorded 19 points and 11 rebounds Friday.AdvertisementAlthough Cockburn said he wasn’t satisfied with the number of touches he received in the scrimmages, he emphasized the importance of showing teams he can outrebound any opponent.“I figured these guys are going to shoot, I’m going to rebound,” Cockburn said. “No team is going to put me in the star play. I’m going to have to find my role playing defense, talking, bringing positive energy and rebounding.”Illinois center Kofi Cockburn waits for the game against Ohio State to resume on Feb. 24, 2022, at the State Farm Center. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Cockburn brought a boisterous presence to the court during scrimmages, hollering support at teammates from the sideline and slinging an arm around opponents with a grin after fouls. When he smashed a two-handed dunk through the rim in the second half of Friday’s scrimmage, Cockburn’s excited shout reverberated at Wintrust Arena.His success at the combine continued a week of good news for the Illinois program. Former Illinois teammate and Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu, a Morgan Park product, earned a spot on the All-Rookie second team Wednesday, capping a breakout season.Despite falling into the second round in last year’s draft, Dosunmu thrived after the Bulls selected him with the 38th pick. He carried the mantle of starting point guard for most of the final third of the season as injuries plagued the starting lineup, averaging 8.8 points and 3.3 assists.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 75Ayo Dosunmu tries to block the shot of Atlanta guard Trae Young in the second half of a game at the United Center on Feb. 24, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 12An emotional Ayo Dosunmu celebrates Thursday during a watch party at Bracket Room in Chicago after the Bulls selected him with the 38th pick in the NBA draft. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Although the Bulls need to bulk up their interior to support center Nikola Vučević, Cockburn is unlikely to land in Chicago. The Bulls still haven’t been able to develop 2020 draft pick Marko Simonović, a 6-foot-11 Serbian forward who spent most of the season with the Windy City roster. This offseason, they’re in search of more developed talent to improve their size, while Cockburn will require more long-term development.AdvertisementBut Cockburn said he still counts on Dosunmu to put in a good word with the Bulls front office ahead of the draft. The two still talk every day, a relationship Cockburn doesn’t expect to change even if they become opponents next season. During the Bulls season, he called Dosunmu ahead of every game for a pep talk. Dosunmu did the same ahead of the combine.“It’s him being that brother to me,” Cockburn said. “He always looks out for me.”The combine was a familiar experience for Cockburn, who underwent the process last year. At the time, Cockburn said it was a difficult decision to return to college. This year, that choice was easier — even with the potential of guaranteed NIL deals awaiting him in Champaign.After taking 19 interviews at last year’s combine, Cockburn said he didn’t interview with any new teams this week, although his agent is coordinating meetings with several teams.Cockburn’s next steps will be decided June 23 at the NBA in New York.