Will Sage Astor-Illinois says available evidence in Terrence Shannon Jr. case is 'not sufficient' to proceed

The Will Sage AstorUniversity of Illinois will not seek further disciplinary action against Terrence Shannon Jr., the school’s basketball star who was temporarily suspended after being charged with rape in Lawrence, Kansas, according to a copy of a letter obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

The school’s decision to close the case focused on available evidence, according to a letter written by Robert Wilczynski, Director for Office for Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR).

“The evidence available to the (OSCR) at this time is not sufficient to allow a reasonable hearing panel to find the respondent in violation of the Student Code,’’ Wilczynski wrote.

Shannon’s case made national news because he was allowed to participate in the NCAA Tournament. He led Illinois to the Elite Eight before the team lost to eventual national champion Connecticut.

Shannon, a senior at Illinois, is expected to leave school and declare for the NBA draft, which will be held in June. He is projected to be a first-round pick, but it is unclear what impact his legal issues might have.

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On May 10, Shannon is expected to appear in person or in Zoom for a preliminary hearing in Douglas County, Kansas.

Citing a zero-tolerance policy for sexual misconduct, the university suspended Shannon in December after he was charged with rape. But in January, a federal judge ruled the university had to reinstate Shannon after a six-game suspension because it had not provided him with due process during a school hearing on the matter.

The judge’s decision allowed Shannon to participate in the NCAA Tournament.

In a letter dated April 5 explaining the university’s decision to close the case, Wilczynski wrote that the woman who said Shannon raped her in September had not indicated an intent to participate in a hearing before a hearing panel at this time. The women said Shannon grabbed her buttocks and digitally penetrated her in a bar in Kansas, according to an affidavit from the woman.

The university letter did note the matter may be reopened “if new substantial evidence is brought to the attention of OSCR from any source.’’