#13 Illinois (25-8) is good now. Next year they could be GREAT.

[Franisdaman]

Unless something crazy happens....

The Illini will return 4 starters next season. Only Kylan Boswell (13 pts, 4 rebound) is a senior.

David Mirkovic - Illinois Fighting Illini Forward - ESPN

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini Forward David Mirkovic on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Tomislav Ivisic - Illinois Fighting Illini Center - ESPN

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini Center Tomislav Ivisic on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Jake Davis - Illinois Fighting Illini Forward - ESPN

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini Forward Jake Davis on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Keaton Wagler - Illinois Fighting Illini Guard - ESPN

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini Guard Keaton Wagler on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

2 key players currently coming off the bench also return.
--> 7'2" Zvonimir Ivisic (7 pts, 4 rebs) and 6'7" Andrej Stojakovic (13 pts 5 rebs)

Zvonimir Ivisic - Illinois Fighting Illini Center - ESPN

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini Center Zvonimir Ivisic on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Andrej Stojakovic - Illinois Fighting Illini Guard - ESPN

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini Guard Andrej Stojakovic on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Crazy.

Somehow Iowa needs to tap into the Slavic countries like the Illini have.

 

[PeteJox]

2/3 of the roster leaves every year. They'll be good but not because of these players.

 

[Hawkangler]

They are saying Wagler, Mirkovic and at least one of the Ivsivic's will turn pro. Possibly Andrej Stajicovic also. FWIW, Andrej would be a perfect Stirtz replacement but that would never happen.

 

[Rambler Hawk]

Yeah, Wagler’s gone for sure - although I am not sure his body/strength is NBA ready. I agree, that Ben needs to look outside the U.S. borders which is what Fran seemed to be doing….(Nigeria).

 

[MacMiney]

Yes Illinois-a-vich will be terrific. Maybe we can steal a few of them vich's sometime. Maybe just one vich.

 

[Max Rebo]

Yes Illinois-a-vich will be terrific. Maybe we can steal a few of them vich's sometime. Maybe just one vich.

If we could just land a son-of-a-vich it would help.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

C'mon. Illinois barely beat Penn.

By 55.

 

[Franisdaman]

Yes Illinois-a-vich will be terrific. Maybe we can steal a few of them vich's sometime. Maybe just one vich.

I say "son of a vich" a lot when playing Illinois.

 

[Franisdaman]

They are saying Wagler, Mirkovic and at least one of the Ivsivic's will turn pro. Possibly Andrej Stajicovic also. FWIW, Andrej would be a perfect Stirtz replacement but that would never happen.

ESPN only has one Illini player projected to be drafted in the 1st round.

So, the other Illini players might as well come back if they are only considered 2nd round picks (or not being drafted).

At the #6 overall pick ESPN has the Atlanta Hawks selecting the Illini's Keaton Wagler.

The entire mock draft:

2026 NBA mock draft: Who's rising and falling ahead of March Madness?

Who's rising and falling in Jeremy Woo's updated 2026 NBA mock draft ahead of March Madness?

www.espn.com

 

[Rambler Hawk]

ESPN only has one Illini player projected to be drafted in the 1st round.

So, the other Illini players might as well come back if they are only considered 2nd round picks (or not being drafted).

At the #6 overall pick ESPN has the Atlanta Hawks selecting the Illini's Keaton Wagler.

The entire mock draft:

2026 NBA mock draft: Who's rising and falling ahead of March Madness?

Who's rising and falling in Jeremy Woo's updated 2026 NBA mock draft ahead of March Madness?

www.espn.com

Crazy that he was pretty lightly recruited..

 

[Hawk48]

Unless something crazy happens....

The Illini will return 4 starters next season. Only Kylan Boswell (13 pts, 4 rebound) is a senior.

David Mirkovic - Illinois Fighting Illini Forward - ESPN

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini Forward David Mirkovic on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Tomislav Ivisic - Illinois Fighting Illini Center - ESPN

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini Center Tomislav Ivisic on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Jake Davis - Illinois Fighting Illini Forward - ESPN

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini Forward Jake Davis on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Keaton Wagler - Illinois Fighting Illini Guard - ESPN

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini Guard Keaton Wagler on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

2 key players currently coming off the bench also return.
--> 7'2" Zvonimir Ivisic (7 pts, 4 rebs) and 6'7" Andrej Stojakovic (13 pts 5 rebs)

Zvonimir Ivisic - Illinois Fighting Illini Center - ESPN

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini Center Zvonimir Ivisic on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Andrej Stojakovic - Illinois Fighting Illini Guard - ESPN

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini Guard Andrej Stojakovic on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Crazy.

Somehow Iowa needs to tap into the Slavic countries like the Illini have.

I was thinking about that as well and yes they will be very good if all come back. Hoping a couple go pro somehwere.

 

[Franisdaman]

I was thinking about that as well and yes they will be very good if all come back. Hoping a couple go pro somehwere.

I am guessing Illinois will make their compensation enough where they will stay put in Champaign.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Awesome.

 

[doughuddl2_rivals]

ESPN only has one Illini player projected to be drafted in the 1st round.

So, the other Illini players might as well come back if they are only considered 2nd round picks (or not being drafted).

At the #6 overall pick ESPN has the Atlanta Hawks selecting the Illini's Keaton Wagler.

The entire mock draft:

2026 NBA mock draft: Who's rising and falling ahead of March Madness?

Who's rising and falling in Jeremy Woo's updated 2026 NBA mock draft ahead of March Madness?

www.espn.com

Let's hope Duke or Kentucky want Wagler very badly!

 

[Rambler Hawk]

Let's hope Duke or Kentucky want Wagler very badly!

To the NBA draft….likely lottery pick

 

[The Big Z]

Let's hope Duke or Kentucky want Wagler very badly!

What are you talking about?

 

[Hawkangler]

Let's hope Duke or Kentucky want Wagler very badly!

He'll be a lottery pick. Big bucks in the top 10

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Rambler Hawk]

Crap…he is very good. They will be loaded…Oh well.

 

[Franisdaman]

The return of Stojakovic, the team's 2nd-leading scorer and son of former NBA star Peja Stojakovic, puts Illinois squarely in consideration for preseason #1 in 2026-27.

Illinois is bringing back 5 of their top 7 scorers from a group that reached the Final Four.

Star guard and projected top-10 pick Keaton Wagler left for the NBA draft and starter Kylan Boswell is out of eligibility, but every other key player is back.

The Key Returning 5:
--> Andrej Stojakovic
--> David Mirkovic
--> Tomislav Ivisic
--> Zvonimir Ivisic
--> Jake Davis

From the Transfer Portal:
--> Stefan Vaaks (top-10 transfer from Providence via Estonia)

Top-60 recruits:
--> Quentin Coleman (4 star SG)
--> Lucas Morillo.................(4 star SF)

Andrej Stojakovic returning to Illinois for senior season

Andrej Stojakovic is returning to an Illinois team that will bring back five of its top seven scorers from a group that reached the Final Four.

www.espn.com

 

[Bro D]

No matter how good they'll be, their fanbase will be even more insecure

 

[uihawk82]

Unless something crazy happens....

The Illini will return 4 starters next season. Only Kylan Boswell (13 pts, 4 rebound) is a senior.

David Mirkovic - Illinois Fighting Illini Forward - ESPN

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini Forward David Mirkovic on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Tomislav Ivisic - Illinois Fighting Illini Center - ESPN

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini Center Tomislav Ivisic on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Jake Davis - Illinois Fighting Illini Forward - ESPN

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini Forward Jake Davis on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Keaton Wagler - Illinois Fighting Illini Guard - ESPN

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini Guard Keaton Wagler on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

2 key players currently coming off the bench also return.
--> 7'2" Zvonimir Ivisic (7 pts, 4 rebs) and 6'7" Andrej Stojakovic (13 pts 5 rebs)

Zvonimir Ivisic - Illinois Fighting Illini Center - ESPN

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini Center Zvonimir Ivisic on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Andrej Stojakovic - Illinois Fighting Illini Guard - ESPN

View the profile of Illinois Fighting Illini Guard Andrej Stojakovic on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Crazy.

Somehow Iowa needs to tap into the Slavic countries like the Illini have.

Wagler leaving will be a huge loss I think as he looked like a Jr when I saw him play

 

[Rambler Hawk]

Wagler leaving will be a huge loss I think as he looked like a Jr when I saw him play

Yeah, Wagler was essentially their Stirz.

I never watched them that much, but Boswell never impressed me and Stoj is better anyway IMHO. Jake Davis seems like he is decent role player, nothing more.

I like our chances with a rim protector now.

 

[TrojanHawkeye]

No matter how good they'll be, their fanbase will be even more insecure

 

[Franisdaman]