Illinois has a real defensive puzzle to solve, and it starts with replacing Kylan Boswell.
Brad Underwood knows the offense should be dangerous in 2026-27, but the loss of Keaton Wagler still stings on that side of the ball. Even so, Boswell’s departure may leave the bigger void. Illinois isn’t just losing a guard; it’s losing the kind of perimeter stopper who could chase elite Big Ten guards and even handle bigger matchups like Northwestern’s Nick Martinelli and Texas Tech’s JT Toppin.
So who takes that job now?
Underwood isn’t sounding alarmed. His message was simple in Tuesday’s press conference: the Illini will sort it out.
“We’ll figure out who that is,” Underwood said in a Tuesday press conference. “I think we’ve got a lot of guys who think they can do that.
I love that part of it. We’ll find out who those guys are.
We’ve got some guys who are very, very capable. I would rather us be great in terms of our team concepts, not making mistakes.
“I think [Andrej Stojakovic] has got a world of potential. I think Quentin [Coleman] has got some tenacity and grit.
I like what Ethan [Brown] has done. I like what Lincoln [Williams] can do.
There’s a lot of guys out there who have got that mentality. We’ve just got to go find out: Can we do it?”
That’s the heart of the issue for Illinois. The top seven spots in the rotation look pretty set, but the eighth man - the bench piece who could become the next defensive ace - is still up for grabs. And if early buzz is any indication, freshman guard Ethan Brown may be the name to watch first.
Brown checks a lot of boxes. At 6-foot-4, he has enough size to bother wings and enough length to make life difficult for guards.
He’s also been praised for his IQ and decision-making on offense, traits that often carry over to the defensive end because they tend to show up in anticipation and positioning. Add in the speed and quickness Underwood has already highlighted, and Brown has the kind of tools that can translate into real on-ball value.
Quentin Coleman brings a similar profile. He’s also 6-foot-4, with quick feet and the kind of poise and intelligence that suggest a high defensive ceiling.
His work on the boards in recent action points to a player who plays with energy, and that matters on defense as much as anywhere else. The one concern is his frame - Coleman is listed at 180 pounds - but strength and conditioning coach Adam Fletcher should help that become less of an issue as time goes on.
Then there’s Andrej Stojakovic, who may have the most complete physical package of the group. He has the size, length and athleticism to be a real problem for opposing scorers, and Underwood clearly sees the upside.
Stojakovic’s foot speed helps him stay in front of just about anyone, while his length can bother guards and wings alike. He’s strong enough not to get pushed around, and he can even force shooters off the line.
That showed up against Nebraska’s Pryce Sandfort in the Illini’s second meeting with the Cornhuskers last year, and it’s why Stojakovic looks like the best bet to become Illinois’ primary on-ball defender if the motor stays where it needs to be. In that role, he could handle lead guards, downhill wings and the kinds of assignments that used to fall to Boswell.
Lincoln Williams also got a mention from Underwood, which tells you the staff believes there are multiple paths to solving this problem. But among the players most likely to be in the rotation, Stojakovic, Brown and Coleman stand out as the top three candidates to inherit the toughest perimeter assignments.
Boswell’s shoes are enormous. Illinois is going to need someone - or maybe several someones - to fill them.
In Other News...
Brad Underwood Just Sent A Huge Message About Lincoln Williams
Lincoln Williams commitment gave Illinois another high-upside addition in the 2026 cycle, and Brad Underwood wasted little time explaining why the Kankakee standout fit what the program wants to build. The Illini coach pointed to Williams athleticism and long-term potential, while also emphasizing the kind of development support Illinois can offer after its recent Final Four run helped raise the programs profile with elite prospects.
Williams had plenty of options before choosing Illinois, and his decision came after he stayed on the board deep into the cycle before signing on June 8. Underwoods public praise suggests the staff sees more than just raw talent here, especially with the expectation that the programs strength and conditioning and player development resources can help shape him further once he arrives in Champaign. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Still Has One Huge July 4 Recruiting Battle Left
July 4 is shaping up to be a busy day on the recruiting calendar, with three prospects set to make their college choices public. Kyren Caldwell, a three-star wide receiver, is down to Alabama, Maryland and Mississippi State after his official visits, while three-star offensive lineman Mason Joshua is choosing between Arizona and Oklahoma State after taking his own visits. For Illinois fans, though, the name to watch is Darryl Flemister, a three-star athlete whose decision includes the Illini along with Iowa, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh and Colorado.
Flemisters announcement is the one with the most direct impact for Illinois, which has stayed in the mix as the list has narrowed toward the finish line. The Illini are trying to hold their ground against a crowded field, and the July 4 reveal will show whether their late push was enough to land a player who could help round out the class. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Freshmen Are Already Giving Fans Reason To Believe
Illinois incoming group is already giving the program something to talk about before the season even gets rolling. The Illini signed six high school prospects in the Class of 2026, a class that ties for the most freshmen in the Big Ten and ranks among the biggest hauls nationally, with five-star Quentin Coleman and four-star Lucas Morillo headlining the group alongside Zavier Zens, Lincoln Williams, Ethan Brown and Landon Davis.
Early returns have been encouraging inside the program, where Brad Underwood and his staff have come away impressed during the first few weeks of the freshmens integration. For a team that has made a habit of leaning on roster construction and development, the size and talent of this class give Illinois a chance to build real momentum, even if the bigger question is how quickly all of those new pieces can settle in and start to matter. [Read more 🡒]