Illinois has three names on the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year Watch List, with the Atlanta Tipoff Club announcing Monday that fifth-year center Tomislav Ivisic, sophomore forward David Mirkovic and senior guard Andrej Stojakovic all made the cut.
Ivisic put together a strong season for the Illini, averaging 10.4 points and 5.6 rebounds. He was especially efficient inside the arc, ranking ninth nationally in 2-point field goal percentage at 73% after going 81-for-111, and he also knocked down 50 three-pointers while shooting nearly 78% at the line. His best stretch came in the NCAA Tournament, where he scored in double figures in four of Illinois’ five games on the way to the Final Four and finished with averages of 12.8 points and 6.4 rebounds.
Mirkovic filled up the stat sheet as a freshman, ranking third on the team in scoring and second in both rebounding and assists. He averaged 13.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists, and he posted nine double-doubles.
His postseason recognition was just as notable: he earned a spot on the NCAA All-Region Team after Illinois won the South Regional Championship to reach the 2026 Final Four. He also picked up Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors, along with NABC All-Great Lakes District Second Team and All-Big Ten Honorable Mention recognition.
Stojakovic made an immediate impact in his first season with Illinois, finishing as the team’s second-leading scorer at 13.5 points per game while shooting 50% from the field (168-336). He reached double figures 19 times and had eight games of 20 points or more, including a season-best 30 points against Maryland on Jan.
21, 2026. He also averaged 4.5 rebounds and shot better than 80% from the free throw line, going 103-for-128.
During Illinois’ Final Four run, Stojakovic averaged 13.8 points on 55.3% shooting across five NCAA Tournament games and was named to the NCAA All-South Regional Team.
In Other News...
Illinois Blowout Came With A New Injury Concern Fans Will Hate
Illinois put together a lopsided win over Fairleigh Dickinson, rolling to a 120-45 victory that never left much doubt once the game got going. The night was supposed to be about a dominant performance and another chance to build momentum, but it also brought an unwelcome turn when Jake Davis went down with a shoulder injury and did not return.
Brad Underwoods postgame update did little to ease the concern, saying the injury did not sound good even though the full diagnosis was still unknown. For a team coming off such a runaway result, the bigger question now is how long it might have to manage without Davis and what the setback means as Illinois moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Already Showed Two Early Changes Fans Will Be Watching
Illinois opened the season against Fairleigh Dickinson with a look that suggested Brad Underwood is still sorting out exactly how he wants this group to function. The Illini mixed in full-court pressure and zone defense, a reminder that the staff is willing to vary the approach early while trying to find the right blend of disruption and discipline on that end of the floor.
Zvonimir Ivisic also drew attention for a different reason, as one of the teams top reserves did not get the kind of early run some might have expected. He played limited minutes and checked in later than other frontcourt options, which adds another layer to the lineup questions Illinois is already exploring as the rotation takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Is Still Waiting On A Key Offensive Piece
Illinois is still sorting through the status of forward David Mirkovic, whose offseason has been interrupted by more than one health issue. Brad Underwood said Mirkovic recently underwent a laparoscopic appendectomy after a setback during his recovery from a foot injury, a development that adds another layer to an already delayed ramp-up for the Illinois forward.
The good news is that the appendix did not burst, which could shorten the recovery window, but Mirkovic still has to work his way back through foot rehabilitation and conditioning before he is ready to contribute. Underwood has been upbeat about what Mirkovic can eventually bring to the offense, but for now the Illini are left waiting on a key piece whose return remains uncertain. [Read more 🡒]