Illinois’ 2026-27 roster already has a core of known pieces, with Andrej Stojakovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, David Mirkovic and Jake Davis all established in their roles. Stefan Vaaks, the Providence transfer, fits into that same broad category, even if exactly how he settles in at Illinois still has to be seen.
The real unknowns are the freshmen. They arrived in Champaign for a reason, so the talent is there.
What they look like right away, though, won’t be fully clear until the season starts. For now, the easiest way to frame them is by looking back at former Illini from the Brad Underwood era who bring at least some of the same traits.
Lincoln Williams brings the kind of explosion that turns heads fast. He and Tre White are both elite leapers, the sort of athletes who can change a game above the rim.
White made his mark as a high-level rebounder for his position, and Williams has that same kind of upside. White was also dangerous as a cutter and in straight-line drives, and Williams has the tools to do that too.
Where Williams may separate himself is with a smoother jumper and, by extension, more three-point upside. White did hit 1.6 threes per game at 40.3 percent last year at Kansas, but Williams’ explosiveness is even more pronounced. That could also give him more value as a finisher in the dunker spot and as a defender.
Landon Davis is a tougher match because his game doesn’t line up neatly with many recent Illini. Still, there’s a clear link to Ben Humrichous when it comes to defensive impact and rebounding. At 6-foot-9, 220 pounds, with length and all-around athleticism, Davis could even end up surpassing Humrichous in those areas.
The difference is in the shooting profile. Davis doesn’t bring Humrichous’ movement-shooting ability and probably never will, though he is solid in catch-and-shoot situations.
On the other side of the ball, Davis has more playmaking ability and a better feel for creating his own shot. He may not become a true “action guy” for Illinois, but he could fill that role at times.
Ethan Brown draws a comparison that is easy to see: Kasparas Jakucionis. Brown has the pick-and-roll skill, the ability to operate between lead guard and shooting guard, and range as a shooter both off the catch and off the dribble. He is not as polished as Jakucionis was in any of those areas as a freshman, but he also doesn’t need to be.
What stands out with Brown is how cleanly he should fit around everyone else. He’s not likely to force bad jumpers or try to thread risky passes into crowded spaces. He’ll play his game and let the rest of the roster do the same, which matters on a team with plenty of creators.
Quentin Coleman and Keaton Wagler are not the same player, but the overlap is hard to miss. Both are composed guards who don’t seem rattled easily, and both have the kind of shooting touch that stretches deep. Coleman has also drawn praise for his processing ability, just like Wagler did.
Coleman brings more athletic pop. He’s better vertically and laterally, with a stronger first step, and that makes him a more dynamic finisher at the rim. He also appears to be more active on the glass and on defense than Wagler was.
Wagler, though, had a special balance to his game. He could score for himself and still keep the offense moving, all while playing with remarkable efficiency.
He hit 2.4 threes per game at 39.7 percent, and that level of shooting is not easy to replace. Coleman will have to find his own way to match that kind of production.
Lucas Morillo and Ty Rodgers share one of the more striking stylistic parallels in the group. Both are downhill players first.
Morillo gets there with craft, a sneaky first step, a borderline shifty handle and long strides. Rodgers did it with force and athleticism.
Morillo also has the kind of positional flexibility Rodgers offered at Illinois. Defensively, he may not reach Rodgers’ level, though the ceiling is there. His shooting was already ahead of Rodgers’ when he arrived in Champaign, but there’s still work to do there.
Zavier Zens may be the closest thing to a direct match in this whole exercise. He and Luke Goode may handle different responsibilities, but the base of the game is very similar. Both are dangerous shooters from deep, with Goode probably arriving as the better shooter and Zens bringing a bit more slashing ability.
Zens also has the size, sturdy frame, toughness and basketball IQ that helped Goode make his mark on the boards and, in a quieter way, on defense.
In Other News...
Illinois Just Added Another Big Piece To Its Future Backcourt Push
Illinois is using its recent Final Four run as a springboard into the next recruiting cycle, and Brad Underwood is lining up more high-end backcourt visitors for the fall. The latest wave includes several five-star targets, with the staff continuing to push hard after already landing five-star shooting guard Quentin Coleman for the 2026 class and keeping the momentum going into the 2026-27 roster build.
One of the biggest names in that group is 2027 combo guard NaVarro Bowman Jr., who is set to take an official visit to Champaign on Sept. 10, while 2028 combo guard Brady Pettigrew is also on the visit calendar. For Illinois, the timing matters as much as the talent, because Underwood is clearly trying to stack perimeter pieces early and give the program another path to stay in the national conversation well beyond last springs breakthrough. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Just Earned A Real Shot At An Elite 2027 Big Man
Darius Wabbingtons recruitment has started to take on the shape of a real national chase, and Illinois is right in the middle of it. The 2027 five-star big man has lined up official visits to six finalist schools, giving the Illini a chance to make their pitch against a strong group that also includes Indiana, Louisville, Arizona, North Carolina and Texas. Wabbingtons background already stands out, too, with both high school and international experience adding to the intrigue around a prospect whose ceiling has made him one of the more closely watched young frontcourt players in the country.
For Illinois, the encouraging part is not just being included, but being included at this stage after the list tightened. Wabbington comes in as a major target with plenty of room for the next wave of recruiting momentum, and his profile suggests the kind of big man every program wants to keep in the conversation. The visits will matter, and so will the impression Illinois makes when the dust settles on this round of evaluation. [Read more 🡒]