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

Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
15,410
22,966
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Unless something crazy happens....

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

www.espn.com

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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)

www.espn.com

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.
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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 www.espn.com

Crazy.

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

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
15,410
22,966
113
Hawkangler said:
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.
Click to expand...

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:

www.espn.com

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 www.espn.com
 
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Rambler Hawk

Rambler Hawk

All-Conference
Oct 10, 2001
2,039
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Franisdaman said:
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:

www.espn.com

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 www.espn.com
Click to expand...
Crazy that he was pretty lightly recruited..šŸ¤Ŗ
 
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H

Hawk48

All-Conference
Jun 10, 2005
1,045
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Franisdaman said:
Unless something crazy happens....

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

www.espn.com

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 www.espn.com
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 www.espn.com
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 www.espn.com
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 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)

www.espn.com

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 www.espn.com
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 www.espn.com

Crazy.

Somehow Iowa needs to tap into the Slavic countries like the Illini have.
Click to expand...
I was thinking about that as well and yes they will be very good if all come back. Hoping a couple go pro somehwere.
 
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Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
15,410
22,966
113
Hawk48 said:
I was thinking about that as well and yes they will be very good if all come back. Hoping a couple go pro somehwere.
Click to expand...

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

doughuddl2_rivals

All-Conference
Sep 5, 2009
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Franisdaman said:
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:

www.espn.com

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 www.espn.com
Click to expand...
Let's hope Duke or Kentucky want Wagler very badly!
 
Franisdaman

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
15,410
22,966
113
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)

www.espn.com

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 www.espn.com
 
Bro D

Bro D

All-American
Nov 17, 2003
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No matter how good they'll be, their fanbase will be even more insecure
 
U

uihawk82

All-Conference
Nov 17, 2021
2,428
3,676
113
Franisdaman said:
Unless something crazy happens....

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

www.espn.com

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 www.espn.com
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 www.espn.com
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 www.espn.com
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 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)

www.espn.com

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 www.espn.com
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 www.espn.com

Crazy.

Somehow Iowa needs to tap into the Slavic countries like the Illini have.
Click to expand...
Wagler leaving will be a huge loss I think as he looked like a Jr when I saw him play
 
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Rambler Hawk

Rambler Hawk

All-Conference
Oct 10, 2001
2,039
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113
uihawk82 said:
Wagler leaving will be a huge loss I think as he looked like a Jr when I saw him play
Click to expand...
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. šŸ˜Ž
 
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T

TrojanHawkeye

All-Conference
Feb 11, 2009
727
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Bro D said:
No matter how good they'll be, their fanbase will be even more insecure
Click to expand...

 
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