University of Illinois basketball player charged in Lawrence for alleged rape

A University of Illinois basketball player was arrested and charged Wednesday after he allegedly raped someone while visiting Lawrence to watch a September college football game.

Terrence Shannon Jr., 23, allegedly raped someone who was 16 or older when he traveled to Lawrence to watch the Illinois-Kansas football game, which took place on Friday, Sept. 8. He was charged on Dec. 5 with one count each of rape and sexual battery, according to a document obtained by The Star.

On Wednesday, he was arrested and posted bail in Lawrence before returning to Champaign, Illinois, according to a statement from the university.

The school emphasized that Shannon did not travel to Lawrence with the university and wasn’t there on official University of Illinois business.

Shannon, a star guard for Illinois, has been suspended from all team activities effective immediately, per policy from the Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Shannon is averaging 21.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game this season. He has made 11 starts for Illinois.

Illinois and DIA officials were aware of the Lawrence police investigation into Shannon since late September, but said they hadn’t received actionable information until his arrest Wednesday, which triggered his suspension.

University of Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said in a release the school and its athletics department have a zero tolerance policy for sexual misconduct.

“At the same time,” Whitman said in the statement, “DIA policy affords student-athletes appropriate levels of due process based on the nature and severity of the allegations. We will rely on that policy and our prior experiences to manage this situation appropriately for the University and the involved parties.”