Ex-college basketball star Terrence Shannon Jr. to stand trial for rape - after returning from suspension to play for Illinois at March Madness

Former Illinois basketball star Terrence Shannon Jr. will stand trial for first-degree felony rape and felony sexual aggravated battery next month, a Kansas judge ruled on Friday.

The decision came at Shannon's preliminary hearing in Douglas County, Kansas. Judge Sally Pokorny ruled there was probable cause for the case to go to trial, and it will begin on June 10.

'Our legal team is neither shocked nor disappointed by the outcome of this event,' Mark Sutter, one of Shannon's attorneys, said in a statement. 

'A preliminary hearing is a procedural process that merely speaks to the threshold of evidence and whether a question of fact may exist for a jury. It has nothing to do with guilt or innocence. 

'Those issues will be decided at trial, and we continue to look forward to our day in court.'

Terrence Shannon Jr. appears in court on Friday at his pre-trial hearing in Lawrence, Kansas

Shannon Jr. was initially suspended by Illinois but returned to play for them at March Madness

A woman accused Shannon of sexually penetrating her with his fingers at a bar in Lawrence, Kansas, on September 9. 

The woman identified Shannon through pictures she saw online and informed police he was her assaulter. Shannon was arrested and charged in the case.

After a warrant was issued in late December, Illinois suspended Shannon indefinitely. He missed six games before gaining a restraining order by a federal judge allowed him to rejoin the Illini.

Shannon Jr. was accused of rape after an incident with a woman at a bar in September

He is expected by some to be picked in the first round of the NBA Draft at the end of June

Shannon stood out for Illinois with a 23.0 scoring average in 32 games (31 starts) this season. He led the team in scoring and 3-point baskets (77).

Shannon guided Illinois to the Elite Eight of March Madness before it lost to eventual national champion UConn.

The university dropped its investigation into Shannon in April.

Shannon is hopeful of being selected in the NBA Draft, slated for June 26-27. He has been projected as a lottery pick by some draft entities.