Illinois sophomore forward David Mirkovic is already piling up the preseason praise, and now his name is on another national list.
Mirkovic was named to the NABC Division I Player of the Year Preseason Watch List, adding to a run of honors that has followed him into the new season. He already had picked up first-team All-America recognition from the Associated Press and CBS Sports, second-team All-America honors from Field of 68, and a spot on the preseason All-Big Ten Team.
The nod comes after a breakout freshman season in which Mirkovic was one of Illinois’ most productive players. He ranked third on the team in scoring and second in both rebounding and assists, averaging 13.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He also rewrote the Illinois freshman record book on the glass, finishing with 297 rebounds to pass the previous mark of 272 set by Kofi Cockburn in 2019-20.
Mirkovic’s season helped carry Illinois to the South Regional title and a trip to the 2026 Final Four. Along the way, he was named to the NCAA All-Region Team, selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and earned NABC All-Great Lakes District Second Team and All-Big Ten Honorable Mention recognition.
The NABC award itself will be decided after the regular season by a nationwide vote of Division I head coaches, with the 2027 winner set to be announced during the week of the 2027 Men’s Final Four. Former Duke star Cameron Boozer won the award last season.
The honor has been handed out every year since 1974-75 and remains the only national player of the year award chosen by the sport’s head coaches.
Mirkovic is one of 20 players on the preseason watch list, a group that also includes Flory Bidunga of Louisville, John Blackwell and Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje of Duke, Elliot Cadeau of Michigan, Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh of Florida, Thijs De Ridder of Virginia, Silas Demary Jr. of Connecticut, Jeremy Fears Jr. of Michigan State, Juke Harris of Tennessee, Motiejus Krivas of Arizona, Milan Momcilovic of Kentucky, Braylon Mullins of Connecticut, Pryce Sandfort of Nebraska, Tyran Stokes of Kansas, Tyler Tanner of Vanderbilt, JT Toppin of Texas Tech and Robert Wright III of BYU.
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