The first 2027 NBA mock draft is out, and Illinois did not land the kind of early buzz this group probably wanted.
After the 2026 NBA Draft wrapped with Keaton Wagler going No. 5 overall to the L.A. Clippers, ESPN’s way-too-early look at 2027 paints a much different picture for the Illini.
Four Illinois players showed up on the board, but none of them cracked the first round. For a team coming off a Final Four run and nine-point miss from the National Championship game, that’s a clear reminder that next season’s roster has plenty to prove.
Quentin Coleman is the highest-rated Illinois player in the mock, coming in at No. 36 overall. That’s notable because Coleman is also the one guy in this group who has not played a college game yet.
The five-star guard from St. Louis is expected to step into the Wagler role, and Illinois will ask him to do more than just score.
In high school, he was known more as a shooter, but in Champaign he’s projected to run the offense and operate as the floor general. If he pops right away, he has a path to the kind of rise Wagler just made.
If not, staying put might be the smarter move.
Stefan Vaaks comes next at No. 38, and his spot makes sense after what he did at Providence. The transfer posted 15.8 points per game and 3.2 assists as a freshman, then picked Illinois as the lone transfer addition for this roster. With Wagler and Kylan Boswell gone, Vaaks should have a major role immediately, and that kind of usage could help him climb.
David Mirkovic lands at No. 44, and he’s the name scouts may end up circling the most by the end of the season. He already showed enough as a freshman to get attention, and he spent the summer in the States instead of heading off to play for Montenegro’s National Team. That decision gives him more time with Illinois’ staff, which only adds to the sense that he could be headed for a real breakout.
Andrej Stojakovic rounds out the group at No. 57.
He already went through the draft process once, then pulled out before the deadline after not hearing the feedback he wanted from NBA teams. Illinois fans were happy to have him back, and his low placement in this mock is a little surprising.
His age may be part of the reason, especially with younger freshmen filling the top of draft boards, but he also looks set up for a bigger year without Wagler around. If Illinois makes another run at a Big Ten Championship and maybe even more, Stojakovic’s stock could move fast.
In Other News...
Another Illinois Guard Exit Puts Brad Underwoods Portal Grip In Focus
Illinois portal business from its Final Four run keeps finding a way to circle back to Brad Underwoods roster management. The Illini lost four players to the transfer portal after the season, but most of the core stayed put, giving Underwood a rare chance to build on a breakthrough instead of starting over. He also supplemented the returners with a five-star freshman and another transfer, keeping the roster stocked even as a few pieces moved on.
Mihailo Petrovic is the latest of those departures to land elsewhere after a limited season in Champaign. He never started, appeared in 19 games and saw his role shrink as the year went on, which made his exit easier to understand even if it still trimmed the back end of the rotation. With three portal exits now accounted for, the remaining question is how much more movement Illinois has to absorb before the offseason picture finally settles. [Read more 🡒]
Kylan Boswell Just Landed In A Spot Illinois Fans Have To Watch
Kylan Boswells next stop keeps him in the pro pipeline, and it gives Illinois fans a reason to keep one eye on Charlotte. The Hornets announced his signing on social media, and the setup is straightforward enough: Boswell will be able to bounce between the NBA roster and Greensboro, while also getting a real look in Summer League as he tries to carve out a role.
For Illinois followers, the most interesting part might be the familiar face already in place. Charlotte still has Coby White, whose game has some overlap with Boswells and who could wind up serving as a useful guide as the former Illini guard settles into the next phase of his career. It is the kind of arrangement that can speed up a young players adjustment, even if the path forward still has a few checkpoints left. [Read more 🡒]