December 15, 2025

Ked Prince, IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Would you be shocked or surprised if the Illinois men’s basketball program went through a season without adding another international player? You don’t have to worry about that, because it happened again today.

The Illinois men’s basketball staff has established a strong reputation for identifying and developing European talent, and that trend continues with the addition of 6-foot-9 wing Toni Bilic from Trogir, Croatia. IlliniGuys confirmed that Bilic will arrive at the end of the 2025 semester.

Why midyear? The plan is to give him an early start on his development, allow him to learn the Illini system, understand the team’s concepts, and adjust to the American style of play. The most important early priority will be building the strength required to play Big Ten basketball.

Illinois values Bilic’s size and skill at the guard position. He isn’t an explosive athlete, but he is a capable shooter and getting him on campus early will help him adapt, grow, and get comfortable in a new environment. At 6-9, he adds a unique developmental piece to the backcourt, the type of long-term player the staff has excelled with over the past several seasons.

According to NextGen EuroLeague, Bilic averaged 13.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.

IlliniGuys will continue to gather more information on Bilic as his arrival to Illinois becomes more formalized.

As the program keeps expanding its reach overseas, the addition of Bilic signals another forward-thinking move. Illinois continues to find value where others aren’t always looking, betting on size, skill, and long-term growth.

If the staff’s recent history with international talent is any indication, Bilic could eventually develop into another key piece in the Illini’s evolving blueprint.

Follow me on Twitter (X): @KedPrince4

Email: KedIlliniGuys@gmail.com