12:45 PM PT -- Terrence Shannon Jr. breaks his silence on the not guilty verdict ... saying on Friday, he's thankful to those who stood by him during the case.

"I knew I was innocent of these horrible crimes and I had faith in God that someday everyone else would know that too," Shannon said on Instagram.

"I am so grateful to all of you for believing in me, especially my family, friends, and legal teams whose support kept me going.

Shannon said he's ready to move on from this and focused on "my path forward."

LeBron James is sending his love and support to NBA prospect Terrence Shannon Jr. ... this after the former Illinois hooper was acquitted of rape and sexual battery charges.

"To my Young Terrance Shannon Jr! Love and Salute you! Proud of you!! God is Good!" the Lakers superstar said on Friday.

"The apologies should be 30X louder than the hate he got but we know how it goes."

King James' statement comes a day after the not guilty verdict was announced in a Kansas courtroom ... months after Shannon was charged with rape and sexual battery.

As we previously reported, Shannon was accused of sexual assault while visiting Lawrence for an Illinois football game in September 2023.

Shannon -- who missed six games over the allegations -- had an emotional reaction after he was acquitted ... and his attorney Tricia Beth praised the jury for the "correct" verdict.

Before the accusations, Shannon was a National Player of the Year favorite for the 2023-24 season. He averaged 23 points per game and led the Illini to the Elite 8 in March Madness.

There were concerns his draft stock would plummet amid the lengthy trial -- but LeBron's making it clear he has Shannon's back.