A day after domestic battery charges against Illinois senior guard Jaylon Tate were dismissed, the Illini announced that Tate has been reinstated from his indefinite suspension.
Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman said in a statement that Tate's suspension, which has been in effect since Tate was arrested in March, has ended.
"Jaylon Tate has been fully reinstated to the men’s basketball program, effective immediately," Whitman's said. "Yesterday, the State’s Attorney’s office concluded it could not prove its case against Jaylon. Based on the information we have reviewed, we are confident that Jaylon is indeed innocent.
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"Jaylon has shown exceptional character during this unfortunate situation, and in light of yesterday’s decision and our own conclusions, we have welcomed Jaylon back to the program. We encourage our community and fans to do the same.
"We have more than 500 student-athletes in the Fighting Illini family. Some of them were involved in this case in various capacities, and it is important to remember that at all times, but especially during difficult times such as this, we encourage them to be empowered and informed. We support each of them individually and remain committed to fostering an environment that allows each student every opportunity to have a successful experience."
Whitman went on to say that the status of Kendrick Nunn — like Tate, a Chicago native and Simeon High School product — remains unchanged. Nunn was suspended in March following his arrest on domestic battery charges, and he pleaded guilty earlier this week to one count of misdemeanor battery.
"Kendrick Nunn’s court case was also resolved this week," Whitman said. "We are continuing to consider Kendrick’s situation and will have no further comment at this time."
Big Ten
With Tate reinstated, Nunn's status remains the only unresolved roster question the Illini faced heading into the offseason. Junior forward Leron Black received a six-game suspension after he pleaded guilty following his arrest for pulling a knife on a nightclub bouncer in February. And center Mike Thorne Jr. was this week granted a sixth year of eligibility, allowing him to suit up for the Illini this fall after he missed the majority of last season with an injury.