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Well, this news is really heartbreaking to hear, per the Boise State X page.
Best wishes to Ty for a healthy recovery.
Let's continue with my countdown of my 30 favorite Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball players of my fandom, spanning from the 1996-97 season until present day. Here are numbers 30-20. After securing highly-regarded transfers Matthew Mayer and Terrence Shannon Jr. following the 2022-23 season but not necessarily having the best results en route to a first-round exit during the 2023 NCAA Tournament, Illinois Head Coach Brad Underwood changed his approach to bringing in players from other programs. Rather than focusing upon stars, Underwood signed veteran role players whom he thought would fit in with the 2023-24 team, including Utah Valley's Justin Harmon, Oregon's Quincy Guerrier and Southern Illinois' Marcus Domask, my 19th favorite player of my Illinois fandom. While playing just one season in Champaign, Domask certainly maximized his time in the Orange and Blue, teaming up with Shannon to lead Illinois to the second weekend of the 2024 NCAA Tournament for the first time since the glorious 2004-05 season when the Illini advanced to the national title game. A shrewd, under-the-radar addition, Domask was a perfect teammate who helped steady the team while Shannon dealt with unfortunate legal issues. Of course, Domask broke out early during the 2023-24 season, having his coming out party on the biggest stage of all, at Madison Square Garden against Florida Atlantic, a program that reached the Final Four the prior tournament. On that glorious Tuesday night, Domask scored a career-high 33 points on an amazing 14-for-21 from the field. In the second half of that game, Domask employed what Illinois fans would affectionately call "Booty Ball," posting up smaller opponents and going to work with his back-down and fadeaway game. Getting on as impressive of a heater as any Illinois player has had in recent memory, with the exception of Keaton Wagler's 46 point performance at Purdue this past season, Domask elevated the Illini that night and the rest of the season. Low maintenance and all about the team, the talented Domask was a revelation at Illinois after playing four seasons in the Missouri Valley Conference, scoring:
Of course, Domask saved his best for the postseason, scoring 26 points against Wisconsin in the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament, earning a triple double (12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists) against Morehead State during the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, and posting 22 points during a second-round victory against Duquense. In my opinion, Domask's most important game was his performance against Iowa State during the Sweet Sixteen . Against Iowa State's blitzing and trapping defense, Domask kept his cool, being strong with the ball, stepping through double teams and not turning the ball over. His final stat line of 7 points, 6 rebounds and team-high 5 assists do not speak enough about how great Domask played in the half court that night. On a team that did not have a true point guard, Domask's ability to sustain and initiate offense was a big reason why the Illini upset the Cyclones. While Illinois would lose big to UCONN during the Elite Eight, Domask acquitted himself quite well, scoring a team-high 17 points. At one point, Illinois had the game tied at 23 with about five minutes left in the first half, with Domask accounting for much of the Illini offense. All in all, as the season went on, Domask just got better and better, a model of consistency, someone Illinois fans could count on every single night. While Shannon may have been the superstar on the 2023-24 team, Domask was a very close second, far exceeding his expectations when arriving from Southern Illinois. Ultimately, Domask is a great reminder of how finding the right guys, rather than just getting the highest-rated players, is so important in today's transfer portal era. From day one on campus, Domask was grateful to be at Illinois and proved that he more than belonged at this level. Domask's lone season in Champaign was so impressive that he will first and foremost be remembered as an Illinois Fighting Illini despite playing four seasons at Southern Illinois and being Mr. Basketball in the state of Wisconsin! In my humble opinion Domask is the most impressive portal find of the Underwood era, a player who set a high bar that will be hard to reach by future underrated Illini transfers who wow more with their game than their name.
Yesterday provided some clarity as to the whereabouts about former Illini Ty Rodgers and Brandon Lee, both of whom announced their intentions to transfer from Illinois last month.
Rodgers has signed with the Boise State Broncos while Lee has decided to play with the James Madison Dukes. After missing the last two seasons due to a redshirt and knee injury, respectively, Rodgers should have plenty of opportunities to play at Boise State, which is joining the reimagined Pac-12 Conference. Beginning on July 1, 2026, the new Pac-12 will also include:
While I was hoping that Rodgers would end up at a Big East school, this move makes total sense. Rodgers likely wants to get as much playing time as possible after not stepping on the court for two seasons. At Illinois, Rodgers would have been the fourth big man, with his minutes not guaranteed. Ty should be able to get a fresh start at Boise State, where he should have two years of eligibility, unless the Five for Five gets adopted and changes that. Rodgers will be playing for Broncos' Head Coach Leon Rice, who has been at the school since 2010. Lee will be playing in a lesser conference, the Atlantic Sun, for a James Madison program that had been pretty successful under former Head Coach Mark Byington before missing the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons under new Head Coach Preston Spradlin. Like Rodgers, Lee should have more opportunities with the Dukes than he would have had with the Illini, where he would have been fighting for limited minutes like last season. Amazingly, Lee was considered a better prospect than his fellow freshman Keaton Wagler, who went on to be an All-American and one-and-done with the Illini. Don't be surprised if Lee plays one or two seasons with the Dukes and then transfers back up to a power conference program. With Rodgers and Lee having signed with new programs, former Illini Mihailo Petrovic and Toni Bilic still haven't announced where/if they will be playing in college basketball next season. I wouldn't be surprised if Petrovic goes back overseas. As for Bilic, your guess is as good as mine. Best of luck to Rodgers and Lee, and Petrovic and Bilic, during the next steps of their basketball playing journeys.
After announcing last Friday that he would be returning to Illinois for his senior season, forward Andrej Stojakovic is apparently entering his name into the 2026 NBA Draft, according to a Tweet from ESPN's Jeff Borzello on Sunday. Fighting Illini fans need not be too concerned about this development, which makes total sense for Stojakovic, who averaged 13.5 points per game last season for Illinois after playing his first two years at Stanford and California, respectively. While the upcoming NBA Draft is supposed to be loaded, Stojakovic is doing the smart thing for his career, getting feedback on what areas of his game need to improve for this upcoming college basketball season. Stojakovic is not projected as a first- or second-round lottery pick at the moment, though that could always change if he does very well during the pre-draft process. For Stojakovic, whose father Peja played 13 seasons in the NBA, getting a chance to go to the combine, test in front of teams and even go through interviews is an opportunity he should absolutely take advantage of even though he is best suited to return to the Illini. Next year's draft is considered much weaker, and Stojakovic will have a serious chance to get drafted if all goes well during his senior season. In 2026-27, Stojakovic will be featured even more in the Illini offense and have a great opportunity to pick up his momentum from the 2026 NCAA Tournament, during which he shined as a sixth-man. Stojakovic is expected to return to the Illinois starting lineup next season. While showing an incredible ability to get to and finish at the rim, Stojakovic could use another year at Illinois to work on his three-point shooting and further demonstrate his defensive chops, which were on full display during the Illini's run to the Final Four. Stojakovic's decision to enter the NBA Draft reminds me of something similar that former Illini Roger Powell Jr. did following the 2003-04 season. While entering one's name into the NBA Draft was much different back then, Powell did so after having a strong performance against Duke in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2004 NCAA Tournament. After getting feedback about his game, Powell came back to Illinois for his senior season, the 2004-05 campaign during which the Illini were #1 for most of the year and reached the national championship game. While Powell did not get drafted during the 2005 NBA Draft, he did sign on as a free agent with the Utah Jazz, for which he briefly played. Still, returning to college was the right decision for Powell, whose game was heavily showcased his senior season as Illinois was the primary focus of college hoops from December 2004 through early April 2005. With Illinois expected to be a top-five team, Stojakovic will have plenty of opportunities to impress scouts next season. Ultimately, the 6'7'' Stojakovic is a much better NBA prospect than the 6'6'' Powell ever was, projecting as someone who can eventually be a nice piece off the bench at the next level. While there is always the possibility that Stojakovic can impress, get a guarantee from a team and stay in this year's draft, this move is most likely being made with next year's draft in mind. If all things go well, Stojakovic would be a second-round pick at best this June, which does not come with a guaranteed contract and would mean less money than staying at Illinois. From a financial perspective, Stojakovic is better off staying one more season at Illinois, where a monster campaign can improve his draft stock and make him a borderline first-round pick a year from now. Also, Stojakovic would be returning to a special team that not only has great potential to make another deep run but thoroughly enjoys playing with each other. While Stojakovic's decision to enter the draft makes things a bit uncertain for the Illini for the next month, take a deep breath as Andrej should be back in Champaign for one more season. As a reminder, the deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft and maintain college eligibility is 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 27th, with the combine taking place from May 10th through the 17th. Expect more clarity on Stojakovic's future somewhere between the 17th and 27th of next month. In the meantime, relax and watch some highlights of Andrej and his dad Peja, whose games could not be more different, like father, unlike son.
After losing to the Connecticut Huskies 77-52 during the Elite Eight of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the Illinois Fighting Illini were clearly a team that would look much different the following season. Definitely gone were senior stars Terrence Shannon Jr., who had run out of eligibility and would be a first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Marcus Domask, the Southern Illinois transfer who would booty ball the Illini to a bounceback season after a drama-filled 2022-23 campaign. Also departing were unsung senior transfers Quincy Guerrier and Justin Harmon, valuable role players from Oregon and Utah Valley who helped the Illini advance farther than any team since the 2004-05 squad. Most likely gone was starting center Coleman Hawkins, who was set to graduate from Illinois and would actually transfer to Kansas State for a fifth season of college basketball. Soon entering the portal were backup big man Dain Dainja, who would transfer to Memphis; redshirt sophomore Sincere Harris and freshman Amani Hansberry, both of whom would end up at West Virginia; junior sharpshooter Luke Goode, who would go home to Indiana; and redshirt freshman guard Nicollo Moretti, who would transfer to Florida Atlantic. Even the Illini would lose assistants Tim Anderson and Chester Frazier, an Illinois alum who would also leave for West Virginia. With only Ty Rodgers and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn returning and freshman Morez Johnson incoming, the Illini had an entire roster to retool via the portal. The following season, Illinois would add nine new players, with the first person to commit being a long-haired, redhead named Jake Davis, a 6'5'' freshman from Mercer. Some Illinois fans were a bit worried and underwhelmed when Davis was added the Monday after Illinois was devastated by the Huskies. While hardly the big-name, first domino Illinois fans were expecting out of the portal, Davis was a shrewd add at the time, with his impact being felt during his first two seasons in Champaign, including starting on last year's Final Four squad. Last Wednesday night, Davis announced that he would be returning to the Illini next season, along with his good buddies Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic. This announcement followed David Mirkovic's return earlier that afternoon and preceded Andrej Stojakovic's decision to come back two days later. While Davis may be the least heralded of the five players returning from a Final Four squad, his importance cannot be understated. Davis is the ultimate team guy, willing to come off the bench or start, a connector on the floor who keeps defenses honest with his three-point shooting and ability to crash for offensive rebounds on the weakside. Davis is a great screener and cutter, and someone who works hard on defense despite being limited physically. Most importantly, Davis is low maintenance. While the four returning players from last year's squad are going to expect more usage within the offense, Davis is someone just here to do his job, to fill in the gaps for his star teammates. With Illinois losing valuable leaders in Kylan Boswell and Ben Humrichous, expect Davis to fill that void even more next season. Last season Davis stepped into the starting lineup to help Illinois survive injuries to Boswell and Stojakovic. Honestly, Illinois is just a better team when Davis is on the court, despite his limitations, as he is such a smart ballplayer. While a lot of people are expecting Davis to return to the bench next season, don't count on it. Coaches love and trust seniors, and Davis could very well start again with Stojakovic sliding over to the two. If things don't click with Stefan Vaaks and Quentin Coleman starting at the beginning of the season, Underwood will not hesitate to insert Davis back into the starting lineup, especially during Big Ten season. Wherever Davis begins next season, Illinois is lucky to have a player who has been part of the program for three years and helped establish a unique chemistry and culture within this current group of players. With five freshman joining the Illini, Davis will be a valuable veteran not only on but off the court in helping the right values carry on with the next core of Illinois basketball. Simply put, Jake Davis is a player whose impact is not always seen in a box score; however, great programs must have players like him who are willing to sacrifice and do whatever it takes for the team's success. The Illini could not afford to lose Davis' leadership this offseason, and it's a credit to the staff that Jake was valued as much as his more acclaimed teammates Mirkovic, Stojakovic and the Ivisic twins. Who would have thought two years ago that the addition of a surfer-looking dude from Mercer would be so important to Illini basketball?
After an amazing junior season at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas (UNLV), former Illinois guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn has committed today to play for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Gibbs-Lawhorn averaged 20.7 points per game last season for a Runnin' Rebels team that finished 18-17 under first-year Head Coach Josh Pastner, the former head man at Memphis and Georgia Tech. Gibbs-Lawhorn started all 35 games for UNLV, leading the team in scoring and minutes played, an impressive 34.1 minutes that he certainly would not have gotten at Illinois this past season. At Illinois, Gibbs-Lawhorn was a spark plug off the Illini bench during two seasons. As a freshman on a 2023-24 Illini team that made the Elite Eight, Gibbs-Lawhorn averaged 2.4 points in 7.1 minutes per game. As a sophomore, Gibbs-Lawhorn saw his minutes double to 14.9 per game, with his scoring improving to 5.7 points per game. Unfortunately for Gibbs-Lawhorn, he always seemed to be a fourth option in the backcourt with Kasparas Jakucionis, Kylan Boswell and Will Riley ahead of him. While showing potential during his first two seasons in Champaign, the 6'1'' Gibbs-Lawhorn made the wise decision to transfer last offseason as he seemed to no longer fit within a program that was emphasizing positional size at all five spots on the floor. Gibbs-Lawhorn originally committed to Purdue while in high school before reopening his recruitment and choosing the Illini. If Gibbs-Lawhorn would have stayed at Illinois this past season, he would have struggled to get the amount of minutes he had as a sophomore, especially with the emergence of Keaton Wagler. Essentially, Gibbs-Lawhorn would have been in the position of a Brandon Lee and Mihailo Petrovic, who never would have come to Champaign if Dra had stayed. As an aside, Illinois has lost and added so many players via the portal in recent seasons that I honestly thought Dra had been gone for two seasons already. Gibbs-Lawhorn clearly bet on himself last offseason, and the move paid off not only with his production but the ability to move up to Texas Tech, whom the Illini will play in Lubbock this upcoming season. Always someone who plays with an edge and chip on his shoulder, Gibbs-Lawhorn will surely be looking to ball out against his former school. Personally, I always enjoyed Gibbs-Lawhorn's activity, motor and confidence on both ends of the court. I'll never forget Dra rallying Illinois to a home victory against Ohio State during the 2024-25 season. Like Ty Rodgers, Gibbs-Lawhorn was a player who was fun to root for, though it was clear he was probably best suited for another program as his time at Illinois progressed. Gibbs-Lawhorn certainly showed that last season. While the Runnin' Rebels did not have the team success of an Illinois program that reached a Final Four, Gibbs-Lawhorn was able to showcase his individual talents and now join a program that will be much more successful next season. At Texas Tech, Gibbs-Lawhorn will be playing for one of the best coaches in all of college basketball, Grant McCasland. As another aside, why North Carolina did not hire someone like McCasland or Vanderbilt's Mark Byington, guys who win immediately at their schools, is something I just don't understand. Whether starting or coming off the bench for the Red Raiders, Gibbs-Lawhorn will be a significant contributor on an NCAA Tournament team for the first time in his career. Best wishes to Gibbs-Lawhorn, except when the Red Raiders and Illini renew their home-and-home series, with a late November or early December date yet to be determined.
Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell has officially ended up where he was likely going all along, to the Duke Blue Devils rather than the Illinois Fighting Illini, with the senior guard making his announcement yesterday. Days after Illinois was eliminated from the Final Four against UCONN, momentum began building that Blackwell would be transferring within the Big Ten to the Illini. Blackwell's father Glynn played for the Illini from 1984-1988. Apparently, both father and son were at the Final Four donning Illini gear. When entering the portal, Blackwell announced his desire to play for a program with national championship aspirations. Given the Illini family ties and recent trip to the Final Four, many Illinois fans were dreaming of Blackwell occupying a backcourt slot vacated by either Kylan Boswell or Keaton Wagler. As weeks went by, those dreams seemed less and less likely. Ultimately, Illinois Head Coach Brad Underwood made retention of his roster, specifically David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic, Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis his top priority. The Illini quickly identified Providence guard Stefan Vaaks in the portal, with the sophomore committing to the Illini on Sunday, April 12. The Illini previously secured the commitment of highly-regarded prep guard Quentin Coleman on the Friday prior to the Final Four. Still, Blackwell's possible addition loomed in the background, with many Illinois fans thinking he would be the final piece to the Illini being a preseason #1 team. Personally, I thought that if Blackwell did not commit immediately to Illinois, more based on his desire to be here than secure the most money, it was likely not going to happen. In other words, the longer this dragged out, the less likely it would happen. When Blackwell revealed that he would be making his decision by May 4th, that was a tell that Illinois was not necessarily his top choice and that his recruitment was essentially free agency. As Blackwell met with other schools like Duke, UCLA and Louisville, it became apparent his motivations were not just winning but financial, which you cannot blame the kid, family or agent. While Illinois could pony up a lucrative offer, it just didn't make sense to do so and possibly alienate an undecided player like Stojakovic, who announced last Friday he was returning, effectively ending the possibility of Blackwell wearing an Illini jersey. If getting Blackwell meant losing Stojakovic and/or another player, that was a hard pass for me. I'd rather go to the dance with the guys who just got me there, given the talent is relatively equal. While Blackwell is a very good player who would have made the Illinois roster look even more loaded on paper, he always seemed to be a questionable fit. Blackwell can be a ball-dominant player, and there is only one basketball to go around. Mirkovic, Stojakovic and Tomi Ivisic are all going to need and get more shots next season. Adding Blackwell would have been one more mouth to feed. In theory, that is a good problem to have. In reality, that can be a quite tricky proposition. There is nothing worse than when offenses devolve into one player trying to get his shots, then the next player doing the same, etc., not that that would have been the case with Blackwell on the Illini. Additionally, this returning Illinois core has such unique chemistry that it would be risky to add another player who might be looking to be the guy and show out for the next level. There is no evidence that Blackwell would have been a bad addition to Illinois culture, though Vaaks and Coleman seem to be the better fits in this regard, players who can start right away yet still find their niche. Ultimately, Blackwell chose the program he was always going to, Duke, which is the most uninspiring choice of least resistance. Duke's backcourt looks jammed next year so it will be interesting to see if Blackwell actually gets to have the ball more in his hands. At the very least Blackwell will be compensated quite well by the Blue Devils. While it always stinks to lose a player to Duke, my philosophy is to add players who truly want to be in Champaign. With Blackwell, that seemed questionable beyond the connection to his father. On the positive side, Blackwell at Duke means he is out of the Big Ten and that I will no longer have to watch him get away with his patented, extended-forearm push off every time he drove into the lane. How Blackwell never got called for offensive fouls on that play while at Wisconsin would always blow my mind. If Blackwell came to Illinois, I was preparing for a long season of turning a blind eye to that staple of his game. At the end of the day, Blackwell coming to the Illini was an intriguing but unlikely story. Illinois has chosen to run it back with five players who took it to the Final Four while adding a wildcard in Vaaks and promising freshmen in Coleman, Lucas Morillo, Ethan Brown, Landon Davis and Zavier Zens. While I can't blame the Illini for taking this approach, it would be prudent to add one more depth piece, possibly a backup guard or power forward. Don't be surprised if that player turns out to be an international kid courtesy of agent Misko Raznatovic, possibly come summer time. Even without Blackwell, Illinois has more than enough talent to compete for a Big Ten title and make another deep run in March.
With the window to enter the college basketball transfer portal closing today, a bunch of seniors who should be out of eligibility are portaling on a wing and a prayer with the hopes of getting one more year and potential paycheck. There are rumors the NCAA might adopt the "Five for Five" rule, which would essentially let college basketball players get five years of playing time, beginning from their high-school graduation or 19th birthday. In other words, future college basketball players would have five years to play five seasons, eliminating redshirts and medical waivers. The goal would be to make sure players are not getting six or seven years of college. The five-for-five would cap players at 24 years of age, to ensure that anyone older would still not be participating in college sports. If this rule were to be adopted, seniors who have just finished a fourth and "final" year could be grandfathered in to play one more season Mississippi State point guard Jayden Epps is one of those seniors seemingly without remaining eligibility to enter the portal today. Of course, Epps began his career at Illinois. Epps was a freshman on the 2022-23 Illinois team that had its fair share of drama. Epps showed promise as a penetrating point guard but apparently clashed with Head Coach Brad Underwood. Epps left Illinois after his freshman season, transferring to Georgetown, where he played two seasons, and then Mississippi State, where he played last season. Interestingly enough, every player from the Illini's 2022 high school recruiting class is in the portal at the moment. In addition to Epps, UCLA's Skyy Clark, Cincinnati's Sencire Harris and the Illini's Ty Rodgers have gone portaling.
As seen by just looking at the movement of the Illini's 2022 high school recruiting class, college basketball has created a mess with unlimited transfers, immediate eligibility and NIL that was not regulated well enough. Whether or not a potential "Five for Five" rule even gets adopted and cleans up or causes a bigger mess remains to be seen. Caution: Below are some highlights of these former Illini freshmen from the 2022-23 season, which still gives me anxiety. That was just an up-and-down season of too much drama. Of course, I love Ty and Sencire and have no ill will towards Epps and Clark. In fact, I was disappointed that things didn't work out for both of them in Champaign.
9:34 p.m. Update: High school recruit Quentin Coleman has officially signed with Illinois for next season. Of the Illini's five incoming high school recruits, Coleman was the only player yet to sign, that is, until this afternoon. Coleman committed to the Illini on the Friday before the Final Four game against UCONN. Coleman is the most heralded incoming recruit, recently elevating to a five-star status, and figures to compete for a starting position in the Illini backcourt. Illinois sophomore guard Brandon Lee has announced today that he will be entering the transfer portal, a move that is not all that surprising but still a bit disappointing. Lee was one of three Illini freshmen last season, including Keaton Wagler and preferred walk-on Blake Fagbemi. Lee was actually a more highly-regarded recruit than Wagler, a three-star who had an All-American freshman season that will never be matched again in Illinois history. Lee is the son of former Marquette star Butch Lee, who was the Most Outstanding Player of the 1977 NCAA Tournament, which earned him some extra points in my book as the Golden Eagles/one-time Warriors are my next favorite program behind the Illini. Early in the season, Lee was getting some decent tick, including 11 minutes against UCONN on Black Friday. Lee showed himself to be a player who was not afraid to mix it up defensively. Offensively, Lee really did not have the opportunity to show much on the court. As the season went on, Head Coach Brad Underwood trimmed his rotation to his usual eight players, with Lee and Mihailo Petrovic getting squeezed out. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Lee attended The Patrick School in New Jersey. He appeared in 17 games for the Illini, scoring a career-high five points against Southern on December 29th. He had four points during mop-up time in the Illini's first-round victory against Penn. Lee did not have many opportunities to shoot the ball from the outside, though he showed capable of getting to the rim against lesser talent. Listed at 6'4'', Lee seemed a bit shorter, a smaller guard than what the Illini have been playing during recent seasons. After Illinois lost Petrovic, Toni Bilic and Ty Rodgers to the portal in the last week, Lee remained the last question mark in my book, though the status of Jason Jakstys is still up for grabs. It was undetermined whether or not Lee would be returning, with Illinois bringing in Providence guard Stefan Vaaks and five freshmen, including guards Quentin Coleman, Lucas Morillo and Ethan Brown. With Rodgers gone, Lee seemed to be a prime candidate to perhaps get some minutes as a defensive guard off the bench. Personally, I was hoping Lee would stay to battle for those backup guard minutes, though his decision to enter the portal makes absolute sense. It is too risky of a career move to sit and not play for a second season. There should be no ill will with this decision as Lee was a very supportive and engaged teammate on the bench throughout the season, part of a team that had incredible chemistry, cohesion and selflessness. Where Lee goes and whether Illinois adds a backup guard remain to be seen. The potential addition of Wisconsin guard John Blackwell seems more dream than reality. Still, the Illini seem a little thin in the backcourt with just freshmen on the bench, though Jake Davis could slide in and play some two, assuming he is going to be a reserve at the start of the season. Of course, Illinois could begin next season starting either Vaaks or Coleman, Andrej Stojakovic, Davis, David Mirkovic and Tomislav Ivisic. Having Lee as a safety net off the bench would have been beneficial in my opinion, and Illinois should be looking for another experienced guard as a reserve since freshmen are always an unknown. Whatever Illinois decides to do, whether adding another player or not, Underwood has earned the benefit of doubt, as building rosters is his best attribute. As for Lee, best wishes with this next move, whether it's at a high- or mid-major level. Lee certainly wants to play, which means going down a level would make the most sense and potentially allow him to join a high major program in a season or two. Who knows though? Earlier this week Minnesota added Winters Grady, a player from Michigan who barely played as a freshman, and Northwestern has lost a lot this offseason. If I were Chris Collins, I would call Underwood to inquire about Lee. There are plenty of Big East programs (Seton Hall, Providence, Xavier, DePaul, etc.) that could be an option for someone like Lee. There is always the Marquette connection as well, though the Golden Eagles seem set in the backcourt, and Ty Rodgers would fit the Golden Eagles much better. Whatever is next in his basketball future, Lee will always be part of a special Illinois team that reached the Final Four! While it would have been awesome to see Lee stay for another season, this move is more than reasonable in today's day and age of college basketball. Thank you Brandon for choosing Illinois and representing the Illini the past season.
* 4:04 p.m. Update: Illinois has just received a commitment from Zavier Zens, Mr. Basketball in the state of Wisconsin. Originally a Northern Iowa commit, Zens reopened his recruitment when longtime Panthers' Head Coach Ben Jacobson surprisingly took the Utah State opening after Jarrod Calhoun left for Cincinnati shortly after the Aggies were eliminated by Arizona during the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. A cousin of former Duke player and current Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel, Zens chose Illinois ahead of Wisconsin and Utah State. There will be more to write about this 2026 recruit in the coming days. Consider "Operation Fighting Illini Retention" complete as forward Andrej Stojakovic has just announced that he will be returning to Illinois for his senior season. With Stojakovic now in the fold, Illinois has retained five core pieces from last season's Final Four team, which was always the optimal outcome with freshman All-American Keaton Wagler clearly heading to the NBA. Sophomore forward David Mirkovic got the ball rolling Wednesday afternoon while Tomi and Zvonimir Ivisic and Jake Davis continued the reunion tour later that night. After some sad but expected news with Ty Rodgers departing yesterday, Stojakovic brought back the positive vibes with today's major announcement Give credit to the Illinois coaching staff for making retention of this core the top priority of the offseason. While the Illini have added intriguing Providence guard Stefan Vaaks, Head Coach Brad Underwood not only emphasized bringing back this fun, lovable and talented group of players but delivered big time. Getting five meaningful players to return in this day and age when other programs are poaching talent and throwing exorbitant amounts of money at players could not have been easy, though Illinois has never been at a healthier place as a program and with its NIL. Also, this group of Illini players is quite unique, with a chemistry and likeability for each other that is hard to find. It says something about this group that they are choosing to run it back when they could have looked justifiably for bigger roles or paydays somewhere else. The ultimate wildcard, Stojakovic always seemed like the hardest player to retain. He was apparently noncommittal during Wednesday night's Kickin' Cancer event. I thought Stojakovic might test the NBA Draft waters and ultimately return to college, with the hope that he would return to Illinois. This development is better than I could have anticipated. I was listening to Jeremy Werner's excellent Illini Inquirer podcast yesterday when Isaac Trotter brought up a really important point. With bluebloods like Kentucky, Kansas, Duke and North Carolina having a lot of roster spots to fill, Illinois needed to lock up Stojakovic as quickly as possible before one of these desperate programs with unlimited resources made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Less than 24 hours later, Andrej is officially back! For Andrej, returning to Illinois is the best move for his career after playing his first two seasons at Stanford and Cal, respectively. While it took a while, specifically until March Madness, Andrej seemingly found a home this past season and became the best version of himself. While this year's NBA Draft is loaded, next year's is not as promising, thus Andrej could really improve his draft stock with a huge senior season. What a difference a few months make. By the end of the regular season, it would have not been surprising to see Andrej leave. After the Final Four, it was imperative that Andrej return as Stojakovic really became an Illini favorite with his unbelievable play in March. During the NCAA Tournament, Stojakovic elevated his game, providing instant offense off the bench, getting to the rim at will and hitting beautiful bankers and fadeaways while giving Illinois some breathing room against VCU and Houston in the second round and Sweet Sixteen, respectively. Defensively, Stojakovic became a lockdown defender, with his effort against Iowa's Bennett Stirtz in the second half of the Elite Eight victory especially crucial in securing the Illini's first Final Four since 2005. Following an up-and-down season of injuries, Stojakovic's play during March really backed up the hype of his highly anticipated transfer from Cal. While Stojakovic had some big games early in the season, he struggled to find consistency in the Illinois starting lineup. On February 6th at Michigan State, he suffered an ankle injury that forced him to the bench. While Stojakovic could have griped and complained about coming off the bench, he handled his new role with great maturity. In fact, Stojakovic seemed to find himself during the NCAA Tournament, coming into games with a Zen-like calm and getting to work immediately. Stojakovic especially settled down a nervous Illini team that got behind early against Iowa during the Elite Eight. Now that Andrej is back, he must be starting next season. With Wagler gone, Illinois does not have another player besides Stojakovic who can get a bucket on his own when needed. There weren't too many teams, even handsy UCONN, that could stop Andrej from getting to the hole when he wanted. While Andrej is not the shooter his famous dad Peja was, Stojakovic's three-pointer was looking better during March. I am confident that Andrej will be better from deep in year two, though his bread is buttered when he is attacking downhill. As dangerous as he is offensively, Stojakovic can be the tone setter on defense with Kylan Boswell gone. For the first time in his college career, Stojakovic will be with a program for a second season. That reality is tantalizing to think about, when considering what Terrence Shannon Jr. did during his second season with the Illini. Andrej has the potential to be a first-team Big Ten selection and more if all goes well. Now with Andrej back, the Illini wait on Wisconsin guard John Blackwell, who seems to be a luxury at this point. If Illinois adds Blackwell, and he fits in with this team's chemistry, the Illini will look more dangerous on paper than last season, which is amazing considering Wagler is leaving as a lottery pick. Whether or not the Illini get Blackwell, this team is in very, very good shape for next season as Stojakovic's return and expected greater role in the offense makes another deep run in March very possible. Year Two of Andrej, Mirk, Tomi, Big Z and Jake being together cannot come fast enough!
Entering last season, Tomislav Ivisic figured to be the most important player on the Illinois Fighting Illini. Coming off two outstanding games against Xavier and Kentucky during the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Ivisic had seemingly found his stride at the end of his first season in college basketball, showing NBA promise with his ability to shoot the three ball and stretch a defense. With freshmen Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley off to the NBA, Ivisic figured to get his fair share of offensive touches during his second season in Champaign. Unfortunately, year two with the Illini did not go as planned for Tomi, though he would respond when it mattered most during the NCAA Tournament. In addition to dealing with early season injuries, Ivisic had to sacrifice his role as the season went on, with once-in -a-generation freshmen Keaton Wagler and David Mirkovic becoming the main initiators of the Illini offense. Too often, Big Tomi was left to screen and pop, and hopefully hit an open three. By the end of the season, many Illini fans were wondering what was wrong with Tomislav, who did not look like the same player as last year. His shot was flat, the energy seemed to be lacking, and Tomi was just off, so much so that I was worried that he may be done with college basketball after the season. And then came the NCAA Tournament, when Tomi rediscovered his game and looked like his old self:
By the end of the NCAA Tournament, several things were clear:
On Wednesday night, Tomi announced that he will be returning to Illinois for his senior season, a much-anticipated swan song. While David Mirkovic and Andrej Stojakovic were/are top priorities of retention, Tomi's return is just as important. Tomi's size is a must within the physical Big Ten while his shooting ability allows the Illini to space out the offense and open up driving lanes. More importantly, Ivisic is a core part of this Illini program; entering his third year in Champaign, he is a major component of this team's selfless chemistry and winning culture. While other guys get more shine, Tomi is the quiet, steadying presence who may be overlooked but is just important as any Illini player. With Wagler gone to the NBA, Tomi should be featured more within the Illini offense next season, beyond just shooting three pointers. If March taught us anything, it's that Tomi needs to get more post touches. He looked so more comfortable down low in his second season of college basketball, and was highly efficient in close. Now Tomi doesn't need the highest usage, just feeding him on the block a handful of times a game will lead to easy baskets as no opponent has shown the ability to stop him from getting to his left-handed half hook or layup. It will be crucial that the Illini do not let Tomi get lost in the offense next season as happened a bit too much this year. One way to keep Tomi engaged is to utilize his passing ability. Ivisic is a highly skilled big who can initiate offense while posting on the block or facing up from the free throw line area. I certainly haven't forgotten that behind-the-back pass to Riley at Northwestern two seasons ago! Additionally, Ivisic committed to rebounding and defending during the NCAA Tournament, which raised the team's ceiling. If Tomi can bring such effort next season, Illinois is going to have a legitimate chance to make another deep run in March. In many ways, Ivisic is the old soul of this Illini team, a gentle giant who is happy to go along and defer to his teammates. However, when Tomi is motivated, he is a challenge to handle, making the Illini an even more imposing team. Here's hoping that the Tomi of this March is the Tomi of next season. Tomi sacrificed a lot last season and is due for a big bang during his final year of college basketball. It is certainly exciting to have one more year of "The Original Balkan," who will go down as one of the more important, underrated and lovable players in program history.
Well, this is a sad, though, expected update as Illinois redshirt junior guard/forward Ty Rodgers has entered the transfer portal.
I can't say that this move surprises me as Rodgers has not played the past two seasons after being a key part of the Illini rotation as a freshman and sophomore. Also, Ty was not pictured at last night's Kickin' Cancer event, which seemed to indicate this move was coming after the Illini announced the returns of David Mirkovic, the Ivisics and Jake Davis. Rodgers decided to redshirt prior to the 2024-25 season as it appeared his playing time would be scarce with the additions of Tre White and Will Riley. Personally, I thought Illinois did Ty a bit dirty as he had started on an Elite Eight team the prior season, playing a point guard position that really wasn't his game. I assumed Rodgers saw the writing on the wall, deciding to take the redshirt at the time, which is usually never a good sign about a player's future with a program. Despite these less-than-ideal circumstances, Rodgers carried himself the right way, being an engaged and supportive teammate on the bench. But then things took a surprising turn. Rodgers decided to come back for the 2025-26 season, with his announcement being made the night of Morez Johnson's heartbreaking decision earlier that day to enter the portal, quickly landing at Michigan. Rodgers' decision to return seemed like a much-needed public relations move for the Illini basketball program at the time, as Ty and Morez both played for the Meanstreets AAU program, and felt like a bit of a veiled shot at Johnson leaving for a higher bag even though he was going to be a major contributor for the Illini as a sophomore. While expected to compete for minutes this prior season, Rodgers unfortunately injured his knee last summer and missed all of 2025-26. When a college basketball player misses two straight seasons, it is best to start over. For Rodgers, would it really have been worth it to come back where minutes would not be guaranteed again? Three years of limited to no playing time would significantly hurt Rodgers' value on the market and essentially end his college basketball career. Transferring will allow Rodgers to get a much-needed and well-deserved reset. It's what Rodgers has earned as a player and a person, with two years of eligibility likely remaining. Still, it hurts to see Ty go as he was the epitome of class and character, being a good teammate the past two seasons on the bench, always offering support and serving as a source of positive energy. No player seemed happier than Rodgers when Illinois defeated Iowa to advance to the Final Four. The kid has seen and been through a lot in four years and always carried himself the right way, representing Illinois with grace, humility and maturity. Illinois was lucky to have a Ty Rodgers, who came in way back with the disastrous freshmen class of Skyy Clark, Jayden Epps and Sincere Harris. Clark only lasted 17 games with the Illini while Epps transferred after his first season. After being a spark plug as a freshman, Harris decided to redshirt his sophomore season when his own playing time seemed nonexistent before transferring to West Virginia and then Cincinnati. Harris is currently in the transfer portal again as he had some bad luck with his moves. West Virginia Head Coach Daren Devries left for Indiana after one season and Cincinnati's Wes Miller was fired after last season. In contrast to Clark and Epps, Rodgers and Harris epitomized Brad Underwood's vision of Everyday Guys; unfortunately, circumstances played out where both players no longer seemed to fit where the program was headed. It is a testament to Rodgers that he stuck around for two years when he didn't have to and could have easily left. Such loyalty should not be discounted during this day and age of transactional college basketball. Rodgers was essentially a player/coach these past two seasons, a luxury for the Illini. Rodgers will always be remembered as a hard-working player who sacrificed for the team and program. I'll never forget Rodgers' freshman season, when he was forced to play point guard during the second half of a first-round loss to Arkansas. I knew right then that Underwood was done with Epps and that tumultuous team of Matthew Mayer and others, though Rodgers was a winning player who needed to return at all costs. As a sophomore, Rodgers stepped up to help man the point guard position, even though he is more suited as a small-ball power forward, after Illinois lost out on RayJ Dennis in the portal. Wherever Rodgers played, he always gave great energy and effort. He was a glue guy for the Illini, a connector on and off the court, a throwback to the days when players cared about their commitments to a school. Rumor has it that Ty has been working on his jumper the past two seasons, which will be interesting to see wherever he lands. Ty has always seemed like a Michigan State type of player, though it wouldn't be surprising to see him go to the Big East (here's looking at you, Marquette!). Whatever program ends up with Ty will get a terrific player, great leader and even better human being. Ty Rodgers owed nothing more to Illinois basketball, though he should always be welcomed back with open arms. For me, Rodgers' first name equates to a giant Thank You. Thank you Ty for being a junkyard dog on the court, a good soldier these past two seasons, and a wonderful representative of the Illini for four years of your life, during which you contributed to so much winning in countless ways beyond the box score. Ty, you will be missed but never forgotten! Best of luck wherever you land!
What a wonderful Wednesday it has been for the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team. After David Mirkovic announced this afternoon that he will back next season, Illinois twin brothers Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic and sharpshooter Jake Davis announced tonight during the Kickin' Cancer fundraiser that they will be returning as well! Illinois has now retained four of its five core players from last season, with Andrej Stojakovic still yet to announce his intentions for next season. Don't be surprised if Stojakovic declares for the NBA Draft to get feedback before returning to college, hopefully at Illinois for a second-year jump that picks up from his wonderful play during the NCAA Tournament. There will be more to write about this exciting news tomorrow, though these images from the Illinois Men's Basketball X account should leave Illini fans sleeping well tonight. It is a great time to be a fan of Illini hoops!
Harkening back to a famous two-word statement from the G.O.A.T. on March 18, 1995, Illinois forward David Mirkovic has announced today that he will be back with the Illinois Fighting Illini for the 2026-27 season. Mirk's announcement checks off the Illini's first to-do on its retention checklist: bringing back the talented and personable forward from Montenegro. Next up for the Illini are the hopeful retentions of Andrej Stojakovic, the Ivisic twins, Jake Davis and any other players who want to return. Fingers crossed. During his first season in Champaign, Mirkovic not only established himself as a tremendous talent but a magnetic personality, teaming up with fellow freshman Keaton Wagler to key an Illini run to its first Final Four in 21 years. With Wagler going to the NBA, retaining Mirkovic was crucial in maintaining the special chemistry that Illinois had last season. The 2025-26 Illini were one of the most enjoyable Illinois teams I have ever watched, in large part due to Wagler and Mirkovic, with such freshmen leadership and overall team selflessness not something that can be manufactured. I have to admit that when Illinois lost Morez Johnson Jr. to the transfer portal last offseason, I was devastated. Johnson was on the trajectory to becoming an all-time Illini favorite with his junkyard dog mentality on the court. When Illinois replaced Johnson with Mirkovic, I was skeptical, thinking it would be too big of a hole to fill, especially for an international recruit new to America. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. By the end of the season, Mirk had become an all-time favorite Illini of mine, with Johnson an afterthought, no longer a what if but more a mercenary of the transactional nature of college basketball. While Johnson might have gotten the last laugh winning the national championship at Michigan, he did so at a price, compromising a part of himself to play the role of a fake tough guy on the court. Personally, I'd rather have the more versatile and genuine Mirkovic than the wannabe villain Morez, whose game I still like and wish well as he likely goes to the NBA. Starting from the season opener against Jackson State, Mirkovic proved that he was more than ready to replace Johnson, not by being Morez but by being himself. While a much different player than Morez, Mirk impressed with his all-around game, competitiveness and fearlessness. Mirkovic was a hub of the Illini offense last season, with his ability to pick and pop and hit the three and, more importantly, facilitate offense. In my opinion, Illinois was its most dangerous when Mirkovic was dishing the ball from the free-throw line in. During Illinois' Final Four run, Mirkovic's unique game and personality were on full display for all of America. In the simplest terms, Mirkovic is a hard kid not to root for and like. He plays the game with great toughness, passion and joy. He is a rare player who doesn't compound mistakes but refocuses with positive, winning plays. Even during games he struggled, Mirkovic could never be questioned in terms of his effort and desire to win. Next to Dee Brown, Mirkovic might be the most important personality Illinois has ever had in its basketball program. Mirkovic reminds me a lot of Joakim Noah at Florida, a lovable goofball off the court and a relentless winner on it. It is so exciting to see what is in store with Mirk next season, which should be his last in Champaign as the NBA will likely be calling. Returning to a Final Four will be much easier said than done for the Fighting Illini, though retaining Mirkovic is a great first step toward doing so. Give much credit to Head Coach Brad Underwood and his staff for not only identifying Mirkovic last offseason but retaining him this portal season. The loss of Johnson could have been devastating, but somehow, someway, Illinois found a more enjoyable and all-around valuable player in Mirkovic! While Morez Johnson came and went, Mirkovic decided to stay, with his loyal decision to run it back much appreciated by this Illini fan! With Mirk back in the Orange and Blue, next season is guaranteed to be quite interesting and entertaining!
Yesterday the transfer portal taketh. Today the transfer portal giveth. After losing Mihailo Petrovic and Toni Bilic to the transfer portal, and freshman All-American guard Keaton Wagler to the NBA Draft on Saturday, the Illinois Fighting Illini are adding 6'7'' guard Stefan Vaaks from Providence on Sunday. Vaaks committed to transfer to Illinois earlier today. As a freshman for Providence last season, Vaaks averaged 15.8 points per game, scoring in double digits in all but two games and notching 20 or more points ten times. Unfortunately, I did not watch much Providence or Big East basketball this year as Marquette, my typical conduit to the conference, had a down year. Vaaks did score a then career-high 26 points at Marquette on January 19th. I will have to watch that and other Providence games on YouTube TV this week to get a better feel for his game. From what I have read and seen, Vaaks is a shooter and playmaker who doesn't bring much defense. His offensive game reminds me a bit of former Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis, with a little Luka Doncic and even Dirk Nowitzki, in terms of how he gets into his shot. In other words, Vaaks seems to get separation while getting into a slow developing but highly effective jumper like Doncic does and Nowitzki did. Apparently, Vaaks was choosing between Illinois and North Carolina. Reaching the Final Four and having a track record of developing international players and producing pro guards certainly had to help Illinois secure Vaaks after a less-than-ideal season at Providence. The Friars were seemingly a dysfunctional mess, as seen in a violent game against St. John's, with Head Coach Kim English being told he would not return before the season even ended. Still, Vaaks' numbers look good, especially in the Big East Tournament. Vaaks hit eight threes en route to a career-high 28 points during a victory against Butler before scoring 23 points during a loss to St. John's, one of three Big East teams to make the tournament. In three games against St. John's, Vaaks scored 23, 20 and 16 points. In two games against UCONN, Vaaks scored 12 and 11 points. In two games against Villanova, Vaaks had 25 and 21 points. Those numbers are promising considering St. John's, UCONN and Villanova are typically very tough defensive teams. From Estonia, Vaaks certainly looks the part of a modern Illini player, being international, bringing positional size and possessing an elite shooting touch, which can sometimes be hit or miss after arriving in Champaign. :-) Here's hoping Vaaks will be teaming up with David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic, and Tomi and Zvonimir Ivisic next season. If Vaaks is sliding into that Illinois lineup, filling a backcourt spot vacated by Wagler or departing senior Kylan Boswell, this seems to be a great initial get for the Illini.
The Illinois Fighting Illini have lost its first player from the 2025-26 Elite Eight team to the transfer portal, with sophomore point guard Mihailo Petrovic leaving Champaign. A touted international recruit from Serbia, Petrovic was expected to be the starting point guard for the Illini heading into the season. Of course, the unprecedented rise of Keaton Wagler from three-star prospect to second-team All American played a major role in Petrovic struggling to get playing time. NCAA eligibility issues and nagging injuries delayed Petrovic's start to the season. After missing the first four games of the season, Petrovic debuted on November 19th against Alabama at the United Center, scoring 3 points and dishing out 5 assists in 12 minutes. Petrovic scored a career-high 12 points in 16 minutes against UTRGV on November 24th. He played a season-high 18 minutes against UCONN on Black Friday, showing an ability to penetrate but not necessarily finish at the rim, going just 1-for-7 from the field, dishing out 2 assists, committing 3 turnovers and picking up 3 fouls. After that UCONN game, Illinois Head Coach Brad Underwood decided to turn the offense over to Wagler, and the rest was history. Petrovic barely saw time the rest of the season, though he did spark the Illini with 4 points and 3 rebounds in 6 minutes during a January 17th home victory against Minnesota. Unfortunately, things just didn't work out for Petrovic, with this move expected and probably best for all parties involved. Petrovic seemed like a good kid and teammate, with some dubbing him "The Human Victory Cigar" as he was inserted late into blowout victories. Petrovic did a wonderful job during the Illini's Senior Night victory against Oregon, setting up AJ Redd for a three off a beautiful pass from in between his legs. Overall, though, Petrovic looked a bit sped up on both ends of the court court when he did play earlier in the season, at least against UCONN at Madison Square Garden. Here's hoping Petrovic can find a better situation, with a second year in America leading to a better adjustment and more comfort, as it just wasn't meant to be in Champaign for various reasons. As is the case with any player who dons the Orange and Blue and seemingly carries himself the right way, I appreciate Petrovic and wish him the best of luck in his basketball playing future. I highly suggest watching the Every Day Guys video to see Petrovic interacting with David Mirkovic prior to the start of the season. Besides being entertaining, the video shows how these international players have a lot more than basketball to adjust to when coming to the United States.
4:38 p.m Update: Illinois has had a second player enter the transfer portal, 6'8'' Croatian forward Toni Bilic, who joined the team midseason but did not suit up/dress for any games. Bilic and Petrovic are represented by the same agent, Misko Raznatovic. This move is not surprising as Bilic's addition to the Illinois program was seemingly a favor for Misko, according to what I've read the last few months. Misko represented six Illinois players this past season. Bilic got a chance to acclimate to the United States while developing with an Illinois program renowned for its strength and conditioning. Bilic could often be seen celebrating with the Illinois players on the court after the Illini's tourney run. For Bilic, it had to be a fun ride to join a team that reached the Final Four. It will be interesting to see where Petrovic and Bilic end up. Best wishes to both players!
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