July may be quiet on the college basketball calendar, but for Illinois fans, there’s still plenty to track. One former Illini transfer has finally landed at a new school, while two others are turning heads in very different settings.
The biggest update belongs to Mihailo Petrovic, who has committed to Seton Hall, according to a report from Jonathan Givony of Draft Express. Petrovic entered the portal one day before Illinois’ lone transfer addition of the offseason, former Providence combo guard Stefan Vaaks, announced his commitment to the Illini in mid-April. While most portal moves around the country happened on a similar timeline, Petrovic was still searching for a destination in early July before Sunday’s news gave him a landing spot with Shaheen Holloway and the Pirates.
Petrovic’s only season in Champaign didn’t unfold the way anyone expected. He averaged 1.6 points and 1.1 assists in 5.7 minutes over 19 games, a far cry from the projected starting role he was expected to handle in 2025-26.
The path changed quickly when freshman guard Keaton Wagler broke through as a bona fide superstar and pushed Petrovic out of the rotation entirely. With Vaaks and five-star guard Quentin Coleman also arriving, the odds of Petrovic reclaiming a major role at Illinois looked slim, making the move out of the portal a sensible one for his future.
That doesn’t mean the talent disappeared. Even in limited minutes, Petrovic showed the kind of playmaking instincts that can tilt possessions and create advantages, even if things occasionally got messy.
He arrived in Champaign with a strong reputation after averaging 14.2 points and 7.3 assists in the Adriatic League, and he still has two seasons of eligibility left. The fit at Seton Hall will be worth watching, especially because the Pirates play a slower pace than the transition-heavy style that suits Petrovic best.
Elsewhere, Ben Humrichous is making a case for himself in Brooklyn. The former Illini forward, a three-and-D type with size and length, has flashed real rotational value for the Nets during NBA Summer League.
On Saturday, he hit two three-pointers on 2-for-5 shooting and added two steals and a block in 12 minutes. Then on Sunday, he went even bigger: 15 points, five threes, eight rebounds, two steals and a plus-21 in Brooklyn’s 89-69 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Humrichous has been letting it fly from deep, and the production is starting to pile up fast. For a player trying to carve out an NBA role, that kind of two-way impact can’t hurt.
Kasparas Jakucionis is also stacking strong performances, though in a different uniform and a different competition. Recently traded from the Miami Heat to the Milwaukee Bucks, he has been playing for Lithuania in FIBA World Cup action.
In his debut, he posted 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists in a 20-point win over Great Britain. He followed that with 10 points and four rebounds in a three-point loss to Italy on Sunday.
Jakucionis will eventually join a crowded Bucks backcourt that includes Kevin Porter Jr., Tyler Herro, Jaime Jacquez Jr. and rookie Brayden Burries, among others. For now, though, his FIBA run is giving him a chance to build momentum before he gets there.
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Brad Underwood Is Sending A Strong Message About Illinois' Final 2026 Commit
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Williams appeal goes beyond the usual freshman buzz. Underwood likes the athleticism and attitude he brings, and the early workouts have shown enough on both ends of the floor to suggest he is not just filling a roster spot. For a program trying to build continuity while adding young talent, Williams is already making the kind of first impression that can matter once the season gets moving. [Read more 🡒]