All-American candidate Terrence Shannon Jr. is suspended from Illinois basketball team activities after being charged with rape in Kansas

All-American candidate Terrence Shannon Jr. has been suspended from all Illinois basketball activities after he was charged with rape.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign student was arrested on Thursday over an alleged rape in Kansas in September. 

An arrest warrant was issued by the Douglas County district attorney on Wednesday, and Shannon turned himself in to authorities in Lawrence the next day. He posted bail and is set to return to Champaign.

The university issued a statement on Thursday to announce the senior guard was immediately suspended from all team activities following the charge.

He had traveled to Kansas with a teammate to watch the university's football team play on September 8 and was not part of their travel party. 

All-American candidate Terrence Shannon Jr. has been suspended from all Illinois basketball activities after he was charged with rape

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign student was arrested on Thursday over an alleged rape in Kansas in September. Pictured: The university campus 

An arrest warrant was issued by the Douglas County district attorney on Wednesday and Shannon handed himself in to authorities in Lawrence the next day. He posted bail and is set to return to Champaign

'The University and [Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics] have shown time and again that we have zero tolerance for sexual misconduct,' Illinois Urbana-Champaign athletic director Josh Whitman said in a statement. 

'At the same time, DIA policy affords student-athletes appropriate levels of due process based on the nature and severity of the allegations. 

'We will rely on that policy and our prior experiences to manage this situation appropriately for the University and the involved parties.'

The university confirmed it was aware of a police investigation into Shannon but had not received actionable information until Wednesday. 

Shannon had traveled to Kansas with a teammate to watch the university's football team play on September 8 and was not part of their travel party

Illinois coach Brad Underwood (left) was set to speak with the media on Thursday ahead of their game against Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday

The Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) suspended Shannon after he was charged with rape, as per the university's policy

It added that it takes allegations of sexual misconduct 'seriously while respecting due process and the presumption of innocence afforded through the legal system.'

His arrest triggered the DIA student-athlete misconduct policy. 

Illinois coach Brad Underwood was set to speak with the media on Thursday ahead of their game against Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday. 

However, this was canceled following Shannon's arrest, and Whitman will speak to reporters on Friday instead. 

Shannon was heading toward All-American honors with his basketball efforts, and he was key to Illinois's impressive start to the season. 

He has averaged 21.7 points, which is eighth nationally in scoring, along with 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

Shannon withdrew from the NBA draft in late May in order to spend one more season at the university.

DailyMail.com has contacted the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Douglas County district attorney's office for comment.