Terrence Shannon was the primary scoring option the past two seasons for the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Those will only have to serve as fond memories during his rookie NBA season. He enters as perhaps the third, fourth or even fifth option his first year with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The T-Wolves already have their superstar in guard Anthony Edwards, the No. 1 pick in 2020. So Shannon just wants to learn much as possible. He was drafted No. 27, becoming the Illini’s first player picked in the first round since Meyers Leonard in 2012.

“Ant is an amazing player,” Shannon said. “He’s one of the best two-way players in the NBA. That’s something I’m looking to do. I’m looking to be there right with him, compete with him, lock down the best players in the NBA.”

Edwards had the young Timberwolves two victories from making the NBA Finals. They lost to the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the Western Conference finals. With Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns as the offensive leaders, the Wolves will look for defense and secondary scoring from Shannon in the beginning.

The Wolves drafted Shannon because they feel he could be the missing piece to help them reach the next level.

“I think he’s a three-position defender,” Wolves team president Tim Connelly said. “I think he’s an unbelievably competitive guy. He’s got size. Another downhill guy who’s going to play with pace.”

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Illini Now. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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Taiyon Coleman has been writing since she was a child. At age eight, she announced to her family that a novel was in the works.

Today, she’s a published author and a professor of literature at St. Catherine University. But the road from there to here wasn’t as straight-forward as you might think.

Coleman joins host Kerri Miller on Big Books and Bold Ideas this week to talk about what happened in the in-between. Some of it is detailed in her new collection of personal essays, “Traveling without Moving: Essays from a Black Woman Trying to Survive in America.”

But the deeper story is held in Coleman’s body, in her voice, in her strength. Don’t miss this vulnerable and moving conversation about mothers and ancestors, writing and truth-telling and the power of being a teacher.

Guest:

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Valleyfair theme park in Minnesota is not offering refunds despite closing down three rides and the entirety of its parking options due to flooding.

The amusement park, located between the Minnesota River and Blue Lake, flooded in areas below “the crest” according to a release from Valleyfair. 

On an FAQ page, Valleyfair states that “Projections show that the Minnesota River will crest on Saturday, June 29. We do not yet know how long it will take for the river to recede to normal levels as that depends on the weather.”

BEAR EUTHANIZED AFTER INJURING TENNESSEE THEME PARK CONCESSION STAND EMPLOYEE

Popular rides Excalibur, Thunder Canyon and Renegade are impacted by the flooding and are closed. Additionally, almost the entirety of on-site parking has been flooded. 

Buses will be provided free of charge by Valleyfair for guests from the Canterbury Overflow Lot, Eagle Creek Park and Ride, and Southbridge Crossing Park and Ride.

Operating hours have been changed from 10:00am to 9:00 pm until further notice, and a “temporary gate entrance” is in use. Re-entries to the park are highly discouraged.

Per Valleyfair’s FAQ page, “There will be no re-entry during the flood-impacted days for all guests, including season passholders, due to the very limited space and capacity at the temporary park entrance.”

Valleyfair amusement park in Minnesota is not offering refunds to guests due to flooding from heavy rainfall. (KMSP)

A Fourth of July fireworks show slated for next week has also been rescheduled for “later this season,” with no official scheduled date as yet. 

Refunds are not being offered by Valleyfair amusement park at this time, given their weather impact policy: “Valleyfair does not offer refunds for tickets impacted by weather, unless the guest selected the Ticket Insurance option.”

“We do, however, offer guests the opportunity to choose another similarly priced date should they wish to move their visit to another day by using our Guest Portal,” the statement reads.

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Valleyfair did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.