Basketball

By IlliniGuys Staff

April 23, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

It's been a time of the year fit only for the fittest of Illini fans.

Transfer portal season. Portal Kombat. When the fortunes of your team's next season can be decided.

Illinois has had some wins. Terrence Shannon Jr. Marcus Domask. Andrej Stojakovic. Zvonimir Ivisic. Alfonso Plummer. Jacob Grandison. Quincy Guerrier.

And some that didn't pan out as hoped. Carey Booth. Matthew Mayer. Brandon Podziemski.

But the stakes were different this time. If Brad Underwood could keep his core from leaving, the needs were few. The Illini head coach and staff worked diligently late in the season and after the program's first Final Four run in 21 years to identify a number of options depending their own player movement. It turned out, they needed only one - grabbing Providence sharp-shooter Stefan Vaaks less than 24 hours after All-American and future top 10 NBA Draft pick Keaton Wagler made his decision to move on. The 6-foot-7 Estonian was largely viewed as one of the top 10 players in the portal and Illinois made quick work to bring him into the fold.

The other player of interest was Wisconsin shooting guard John Blackwell. Bringing in the All-Big Ten third teamer and son of former Illini Glynn Blackwell would have unquestionably given Illinois the best starting five in the country. But in the end, it wasn't a good fit, whether it was Blackwell wanting to have the ball in his hands more or wanting more money in his hands, the Illini moved on and will enter the upcoming season in everyone's preseason top 5 with their top five available returning players, Vaaks, and a top-shelf recruiting class that includes a pair of athletic top-40 guards.

Will that be enough? How did the Illini navigate the battles in Portal Kombat this time around? We asked the IlliniGuys for their thoughts:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

April 21, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois women’s basketball program is already keeping a close eye on one of the state’s emerging young prospects.

IlliniGuys received a tip from former Peoria Manual Rams coach David Williams, who now trains players throughout the Peoria area, that Kate McDougall, a 5-foot-11 freshman wing from Washington High School, is on Illinois’ radar.

After reviewing video footage provided by Williams, it is easy to see why Illinois assistant coach Britney Anderson has taken the lead in McDougall’s recruitment. The early impressions from the Illinois staff have left a strong mark on both the player and her family.

By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Co-Founder

April 20, 2026

Good morning from the IlliniGuys editorial desk! And if you can't feel good about what's happening at Ubben, let me know so I can add you to my prayer list.

The transfer portal window will close soon and Illini head coach Brad Underwood and his staff have played this about as well as anybody could have expected. Here's where we stand as the team's roster has taken shape:

April 19th, 2025

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois men’s basketball team has added another name to its list of departures, as guard Brandon Lee has entered the 2026 transfer portal. On3 first reported the news on X.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

April 18, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The lead matters in journalism, and right now, Illinois basketball is writing one that’s hard to top. What’s unfolding in Champaign feels unprecedented, as the Illini continue to build momentum on the recruiting trail in a way that may be unmatched in program history.

Head coach Brad Underwood and his staff, associate head coach Orlando Antigua, recruiting coordinator Geoff Alexander, offensive coordinator Tyler Underwood, defensive coordinator Camryn Crocker, and director of player development Zach Hamer, are operating at an elite level.

That continued Friday afternoon when Illinois secured a commitment from Wisconsin Mr. Basketball Zavier Zens.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

April 18, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois power forward David Mirkovic will be back in the saddle again, and his return could reshape expectations for the Illini heading into next season.

IlliniGuys staff writer Matt Stevens was ahead of the game, reporting that Mirkovic signed a multi-year deal with Illinois last summer, setting the stage for long-term stability in Champaign.

The outspoken forward made it official this week, taking to social media to announce his return, providing clarity for Illinois fans and the rest of college basketball. His decision sets the tone for a strong returning core and immediately places the Illini among the nation’s most intriguing teams.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

(Cover photo courtesy Jeremy Dunk)

There are a lot of questions remaining about how the Illini basketball squad is going to work out this fall, but one thing is sure: the name at the bottom of the roster.  Zavier Zens of basketball powerhouse Wisconsin Lutheran of Milwaukee is the newest Illini. 

Zens is a 6'7"three-point sniper who will fit in very well on an Illini team that values tall perimeter players who can stretch the defense.  Zens is more than just a shooter too.  Anyone would focus on his elite shooting numbers first (42% from 3 to go with 62% from the field overall). 

By IlliniGuys Staff April 17, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Despite still being the second-leading scorer on a team that went to the Final Four, Illini coaches feel Andre Stojakovic can be solid on his increased value when fully heathy.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

April 16, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

GIFFORD — Brad Underwood feels his pitch to get Andrej Stojakovic in the building last spring is completely different than what it is now to keep him in the fold.

After having him experience 33 games with 21 starts this past season that ended in his first NCAA tournament experience and a Final Four trip, the Illini head coach knows what he’s selling to the 6-foot-7 wing is no longer a mystery.

“I think his experience here very much was a positive one and I thought the strides we made were incredible,” Underwood said Wednesday night at Gordyville USA in Gifford, Ill. “I couldn’t be more pleased with him, especially with the fact that he missed seven weeks.”

However, as he looked at the 21-year-old guard sitting with his 2025-26 Illini teammates at Gordyville USA while doing Underwood did a local media session before for annual Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser Wednesday night in Gifford, Ill., the Illini head coach remains exceedingly confident Stojakovic to return to Illinois for the 2026-27 season. Despite being the second-leading scorer and a very productive player during the Illini’s Final Four run, 21-year-old can still answer an underlying question about his value with this program because he likely was never fully healthy. Stojakovic injured his knee in preseason practices and then missed two games due to the final of multiple severe ankle injuries.

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys […]

Illinois forward David Mirkovic used Twitch to announce what he called Wednesday night his “inevitable” return based on his initial deal and his feelings about his first year of college basketball.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

April 15, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

GIFFORD — If nothing else was accomplished Wednesday afternoon, David Mirkovic had fun informing his 62-year-old head coach what exactly Twitch was.

The 20-year-old forward used the online streaming platform to announce to more than 3,000 people what he essentially knew would be the result when he arrived at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Mirkovic announced his return to the Illini basketball roster for the 2026-27 season earlier Wednesday afternoon and then confirmed essentially why it was an inevitable reality.

In a media session before the annual Coaches vs. Cancer event hosted by Illinois head coach Brad Underwood at Gordyville USA in Gifford, Ill., Mirkovic answered an IlliniGuys.com question regarding whether he signed a multi-year with Illinois last summer saying “basically yes”.

The details Mirkovic described in his answer what should be described as a 1-year contract with Illinois with a player option that the 6-foot-9 All-Big Ten honoree and Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection knew he would be executing early into his first season of college basketball.

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer April 15, […]

By IlliniGuys Staff April 15, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By IlliniGuys Staff April 15, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular April 14, 2026 Illini […]