Terrence Shannon Jr., the standout player for the No. 11 University of Illinois men's basketball team, has been suspended from all team activities after facing rape charges, per ESPN.

The school made the announcement, revealing that a warrant for Shannon's arrest was issued by the Douglas County district attorney's office in Kansas over an alleged sexual assault that occurred in September.

Shannon voluntarily turned himself in and was arrested in Lawrence, Kansas, on Thursday morning. The charge against him is "rape; sexual intercourse without consent and use of force," according to jail records.

The university clarified that the alleged incident took place while Shannon was in Lawrence for the Illinois-Kansas football game, emphasizing that he was not there on official university business.

Shannon, posting $50,000 bail, is returning to Champaign, Illinois. His attorney, Mark P. Sutter, asserted Shannon's innocence, stating that his client had cooperated with law enforcement since the allegations surfaced in September.

Several months later, formal charges were filed against Terrence Shannon Jr. in Lawrence, KS. Responding within 24 hours, he voluntarily surrendered to local authorities for processing and release.

Shannon maintains his innocence and plans to take the case to trial, according to his lawyer.

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Legal Implications and Team Impact

The charging document presented by Douglas County Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Tatum lists the alleged victim, two witnesses, and three Lawrence Police Department officials as witnesses, according to The News-Gazette.

Terrece Shannon Jr. faces a severity level 1 person felony charge of rape, carrying a penalty range of 147-653 months in prison, a fine of up to $300,000, and 36 months of post-release supervision.

Illinois coach Brad Underwood's media appearance, scheduled ahead of a non-conference game against Fairleigh Dickinson, was canceled following the news of Shannon's arrest and suspension.

The university, represented by Director of Athletics Josh Whitman, asserted a zero-tolerance policy for sexual misconduct but emphasized providing due process to student-athletes based on the nature and severity of allegations.

Meanwhile, the upcoming game against FDU on Friday is a sellout, marking the third sellout this season and suggesting continued strong interest in the program, in part due to Shannon's presence.

Athletic Director's Releases Statement to Terrence Shannon Jr.'s Rape Charges

Josh Whitman stated that the university had been aware of the Lawrence police investigation into Shannon since late September but only received actionable information on Wednesday, FOX Sports reported.

Whitman emphasized the commitment to managing the situation appropriately for the university and the involved parties.

Shannon, a fifth-year senior, has been a key player for the Illinois basketball team, averaging 21.7 points per game.

The 23-year-old guard's impressive performance includes seven 20-plus point games this season. His media availability was canceled, and Whitman is scheduled to address reporters on Friday night.

Shannon withdrew from the NBA draft in May to return for a final season with Illinois.

Based on his strong play, he is being projected as a potential late first-round or early second-round pick.

The university, currently on break, will resume Big Ten play on Tuesday against Northwestern, with a marquee matchup against No. 1 Purdue scheduled for January 5.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Illinois basketball star, Chicago native Terrence Shannon Jr. charged with rape - From WGN