Basketball

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 […]

By IlliniGuys Staff

April 13, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Illinois forward Cearah Parchment is coming off a tremendous first collegiate season in which she established herself not only as a leader on the Illini team, but as one of the top players in the nation and a centerpiece as coach Shauna Green looks to build off back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances.

She talked with our Larry Smith on the weekly IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular syndicated radio show.

Larry Smith: CeCe, you've had some time now to decompress and take in what was just an amazing ride. Talk about this freshman season and this campaign for the Fighting Illini.

Cearah Parchment: Yeah, I mean, it's been such a great experience. I think that's what's made it great, is the people, like. as you said, like, we're a young team, so that means we had a lot of new people come in, so it wasn't just freshmen who were alone, we had other transfers come in, so it was kind of nice to go through that experience

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Senior Recruiting Analyst

(Cover photo courtesy Providence Friars Basketball)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — This year’s version of “Portal Kombat” looks much different than in recent seasons, and there is a clear reason why: Illinois is fresh off a Final Four run.

On the strength of that, an Elite Eight appearance in 2024, and being the winningest program in the Big Ten conference over the past seven years, the Illini have positioned themselves as one of the top 10 programs in college basketball, a destination where elite players now want to play.

That momentum continued as the Illinois men’s basketball program secured a commitment from one of the top players in the 2026 transfer portal, former Providence standout Stefan Vaaks.

Vaaks arrives in Champaign with an impressive shooting resume that had the coaching staff convinced early in the process.

By IlliniGuys Staff

April 12, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Providence Friars Basketball)

Well, it happened. Keaton Wagler has entered the NBA Draft and his decision is final. It's a fitting result and conclusion to the greatest freshman season in Illini history.

So...now what?

You should know by now that if you have questions, IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy has answers. Brad posts real-time updates several times a day on our premium message boards and delivered the goods last night:

Keaton Wagler had an incredible freshman year as my colleague Larry Smith outlined and, as we expected this morning, he announced his decision today to head to the NBA. Illinois has contingency plans in place, however.

Illinois is in a really good place with John Blackwell, and even better now. Illinois will meet with him on Monday.

By IlliniGuys Staff April 11, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]