Illinois basketball is staring at a 2027 NBA Draft that could end up looking a lot like a program showcase.
The Illini have already stacked up five NBA Draft picks since the start of the decade, and four of those came in the first round. If Brad Underwood’s latest roster hits the way it’s expected to, next summer could push that run even further.
At the top of the list are Andrej Stojakovic and Stefan Vaaks, two players who already have some draft buzz attached to them. ESPN’s way-too-early mock drafts have both in the conversation, and strong seasons could send either one climbing into the first round.
Stojakovic spent part of the offseason going through the NBA Draft Combine, working out for NBA teams and learning the process. He was viewed as a likely second-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, but now he looks like a lock to be in the mix for next summer.
Vaaks brings a different kind of appeal. Scouts are going to love the shotmaking, and Illinois should put that on full display. Add in his 6-foot-7 frame and his age, and he fits the profile of a prospect teams will want to bet on.
There are also a few Illinois players whose draft futures could swing dramatically over the course of the season.
David Mirkovic was a major force for Illinois last season, and the team often followed his lead. At 6-foot-9 and 255 pounds, he has the kind of scoring touch from both the three-point line and mid-range that gets attention fast.
Right now, Mirkovic is projected as a mid-second-round pick, but another strong year could change that in a hurry. He has the talent to become a first-rounder, which puts him in an interesting spot: jump to the NBA and develop there, or stay at Illinois and try to rise into the 2028 draft. As a rising sophomore, he still has plenty of runway left in Champaign.
Incoming freshman Quentin Coleman is another name to watch, and maybe the biggest wild card on the roster.
The five-star recruit should get a real opportunity early, and his game fits the Illinois system. His off-ball movement, basketball IQ and range as a shooter stand out, especially for someone so young. The comparison to Keaton Wagler’s rise is hard to miss.
Coleman’s age gives him the option to stay and grow at Illinois for a few years, but if he makes enough noise this season, he could force his way into a tougher decision. Mock drafts already have him all over the map, from top 10 to the second round to undrafted.
The Ivisic twins, Tomislav and Zvonimir, are not showing up in mock drafts yet, but they could still work their way into the picture.
Both have the size, athleticism and three-point shooting that can get scouts interested late in the draft. Zvonimir’s role off the bench makes his path especially difficult, but Tomislav has a better shot if he delivers a strong season.
Tomislav is coming in healthy, which should help him find his rhythm earlier than he did last season, when injury slowed his start. After what he produced in the 2024-2025 season, he has a chance to build enough momentum to get noticed.
As Illinois’ starting center on a team with national championship aspirations, he’ll need to be a major factor if the Illini are going to reach that level. If he is, the stage could be big enough to put him on draft boards.
Underwood’s track record in player development is already clear, and this roster gives him another chance to turn talent into NBA picks. With this much star power in one place, Illinois could be looking at a draft night painted orange and blue.
In Other News...
Illinois Fans Just Got Another Reason To Rally Around Katin Houser
Katin Housers arrival in Champaign already gave Illinois fans a fresh reason to pay attention to the quarterback room, and his track record suggests theres more here than a typical portal add. The former East Carolina starter brings real experience with him, along with the kind of production that usually gets a quarterback noticed when people start sorting out the Big Ten pecking order for the fall.
Still, his name was missing from a recent top-10 conference quarterback list, which is the sort of slight that tends to stick in a fan bases craw in July. Illinois has plenty of reason to believe Houser can matter right away, and the debate around where he belongs among Big Ten passers only adds another layer to a season that already has a lot of intrigue attached to it. [Read more 🡒]
Bret Bielema Suddenly Faces An Illinois Question Fans Did Not Expect
Illinois has spent the last two seasons building real momentum under Bret Bielema, piling up 19 wins and adding bowl victories in 2024 and 2025. Luke Altmeyer was a big part of that rise before heading to the NFL, and the program entered this stretch with the kind of stability that usually makes the next step feel inevitable.
Instead, the early look at Illinois 2027 recruiting class has raised a question few around the program expected to be asking this soon. The class sits near the bottom of the Big Ten and outside the national top 50 with only 15 commits, a sharp slide from the No. 6 league ranking in the 2026 cycle, and the haul has not yet delivered the kind of blue-chip impact that would ease the concern. [Read more 🡒]