The Illinois basketball program is riding high after one of the most remarkable runs in its history, making it all the way to the Final Four. It's a moment Illini fans will hold dear, given that it’s been over two decades since they last reached such heights in the NCAA tournament.
A key figure in this memorable journey was freshman phenom Keaton Wagler. His performance was nothing short of spectacular, and now he's off to the NBA, drafted fifth overall by the Los Angeles Clippers. With Wagler moving on, the big question looming is: who will step into his shoes for Illinois?
Let's dive into the numbers. Wagler was a powerhouse, averaging 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.
That kind of production is not easy to replace, but Illinois has a couple of promising candidates ready to rise to the occasion. David Mirkovic is poised for a breakout season and could very well see his stats climb.
Meanwhile, Stefan Vaaks, a new addition from the transfer portal, is another player who could make a significant scoring impact.
If I had to place a bet, I'd put my chips on Mirkovic. With the departures opening up more opportunities, he's set to be a focal point in the offense, especially with his sharp 37.5% three-point shooting last season.
Rebounding is another area where Wagler excelled, ranking third on the team. Illinois will need someone to step up and fill that void.
Vaaks, with his size advantage over Wagler, might just be the answer. Though he averaged 2.5 rebounds as a freshman, the Illinois system is likely to see him focus more on hitting the boards, potentially pushing his average closer to 5.0 rebounds per game.
Now, let’s talk assists. Wagler led the team with 4.2 assists per game, and while there isn't a traditional point guard waiting in the wings, Mirkovic might just be the playmaker Illinois needs. His court vision last season was a highlight, and with more responsibility, he could see his assists climb north of 4.0 per game.
Three-point shooting is another critical component to consider. Wagler was the team's best from deep, hitting 39.7%.
Freshman Quentin Coleman is a name to watch here. He dazzled with a 50.6% three-point shooting as a high school senior.
While replicating that in college might be a tall order, he could easily be a 40% shooter for the Illini.
But Wagler's impact wasn't just about numbers. He was the go-to guy when Illinois needed a clutch basket.
That intangible quality, the ability to create and score under pressure, is something the team will miss. As we look at the roster, it seems this role might fall to one of the newcomers.
Vaaks is undoubtedly talented, but the true heir to Wagler's clutch gene might be Coleman. He's shown he can create his own shot and score from anywhere on the court. Expect him to have an impressive freshman year, taking on a role similar to Wagler's as a key offensive weapon for Illinois.
In Other News...
Illinois Just Landed A Big Recruiting Moment With Elite In-State Guard
Illinois has been circling Brady Pettigrew for a while, and the next step in that pursuit is another unofficial visit to campus. The composite five-star guard from Illinois remains one of the most sought-after names in the Class of 2028, with 247Sports listing him as the No. 18 overall prospect and the top player in the state. He already has more than 25 Division-I offers, a group that includes Ohio State, Auburn, Villanova and Florida State, which tells you how wide the competition has become for one of the countrys best young guards.
For Illinois, though, the important part is familiarity. Pettigrew has been on campus multiple times already, and that kind of repeated contact matters when a program is trying to stay in front of an elite in-state target before the chase gets even more crowded. The Illini have done enough to stay firmly in the mix, but with so many major programs involved, every visit becomes another chance to strengthen the relationship and keep the edge in a recruitment that figures to draw plenty more attention. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois 2027 Recruiting Board Is Raising A Familiar Underwood Debate
Illinois has already started to map out its next few recruiting cycles, and the early look at 2027 and 2028 only sharpens a familiar Brad Underwood question: how much positional flexibility does this roster really need, and where can Illinois afford to be choosy? The staff has a late addition already in place for the 2026-27 roster, but the bigger picture is coming into focus through scholarship offers and early commitments, including two in-state wings in the 2027 class.
Isaiah Santos fits the kind of debate Illinois keeps circling back to. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound forward brings the sort of physical profile that can help on the glass and on defense, but his place in the lineup is still part of the larger roster puzzle the Illini are trying to solve. With more targets still on the board and the board itself expanding, Illinois is again weighing whether to keep stacking wings, chase more size, or lean into the type of versatile pieces that have long defined Underwoods best teams. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Needs David Mirkovic To Make One More Leap
David Mirkovic didnt arrive in Champaign as a mystery, and he didnt play like one as a freshman either. The forward gave Illinois a sturdy inside presence, real rebounding juice and enough touch to make his offensive game more than just a complement, finishing with a season that earned him All-Big Ten honorable mention and a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
Now comes the harder part for Illinois, because the next step is less about establishing a role than expanding it. Mirkovics value already showed up in the spaces he occupied and the shots he was willing to take, especially when paired with Keaton Wagler, and the Illini know that if his outside shooting holds and his pick-and-pop game keeps stretching defenses, it changes the way the whole offense can function. [Read more 🡒]