‘The Honorary Balkan’: How Jake Davis Became the American Guide for the Illini’s European Wave

Illinois veteran forward Jake Davis became the ‘Honorary Balkan’ during a summer trip to Chicago with the Ivisic twins where the veteran American forward was the guide to David Mirkovic.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

April 3, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Payton Sturdy/IlliniGuys)

INDIANAPOLIS — Beyond the six players on this Illinois roster from a Balkan state nation, Jake Davis may have earned the title of a ‘honorary European’ during a summer trip to Chicago before preseason practice began.

On the birthday weekend for the 7-foot Ivisic twins, Tomislav and Zvonimir, the two Croatian brothers decided to take . . .

 

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