Kofi Cockburn will miss the first three games of the season after the NCAA said he sold school-issued apparel and memorabilia in June.
According to a news release Monday afternoon, the Illini big man was selling the items before July 1 when the state of Illinois and the NCAA enacted new NIL legislation making such sales permissible.
Officials said Cockburn will also repay the amount generated from selling apparel by making a donation to a charity of his choice.
A junior, Cockburn was named last week Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year. He will miss games against Jackson State (Nov.