Illinois enters 2026-27 with a roster that looks loaded enough to make the conversation feel almost unfair. And yet, even with proven college producers all over the floor, there’s still a real question hanging over the group: could Quentin Coleman be the one who rises to the top?
That’s not the obvious answer, at least not in early July. Illinois has plenty of established options already in the mix, including David Mirkovic, Stefan Vaaks and Andrej Stojakovic.
Mirkovic is widely viewed as Illinois’ most important player, and Stojakovic brings a dangerous downhill game as what may be the most dominant returning slasher in college basketball. Vaaks, meanwhile, has the kind of backcourt skill set that naturally keeps him in the center of the discussion.
Still, Coleman has the profile of a player who can force the issue.
The five-star freshman checks a lot of boxes for a team looking for a true go-to threat. He can score off the dribble or off the catch, run in transition, process the game quickly, make the right play and attack the rim.
He also brings a gritty edge on the glass. That’s a pretty complete package for a freshman guard, and it’s why the idea of him becoming Illinois’ No. 1 option isn’t just wishful thinking.
The challenge is simple: there are a lot of mouths to feed. Illinois is deep, and the competition for touches is going to be fierce.
Vaaks was the Big East’s top three-point shooter and his team’s top passer in 2025-26, which makes him the safer bet to shoulder the heaviest backcourt load right now. Coleman, though, has the kind of talent that can change the conversation fast if he earns the ball in the right spots.
That matters because Illinois’ offense doesn’t have to be built around one runaway scorer. In fact, the better bet may be a balanced attack with multiple players capable of carrying stretches.
Underwood has already shown a willingness to spread the ball around and use several primary ball-handlers, and last season that included Wagler, Boswell and even Mirkovic at times. Wagler ended up taking over the 2025-26 season in a big way, finishing as the clear top dog while Mirkovic followed as the runner-up.
Coleman doesn’t need to match that kind of production for Illinois to get where it wants to go. The more realistic path is a team that spreads the load and lets the best option emerge naturally. But if Coleman does get those on-ball chances, there’s no ceiling on what he can do for the Illini.
So yes, Vaaks may have the early edge. And yes, Coleman is still the less likely answer to the No. 1-option question. But he’s talented enough to make it interesting, and in a roster this crowded, that’s saying something.
In the end, the exact order may not matter much. Whether it’s Coleman, Vaaks, Mirkovic, Stojakovic or someone else, Illinois looks built to let the hierarchy sort itself out over time. If that happens the way it did a year ago, the wins should come with it.
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For Underwood, that means a deliberate reset in tone and mindset as the Illini prepare for a new Big Ten grind. He has made it clear the next team needs its own mannerisms, characteristics and style, and the summer work is designed to build the kind of culture that will matter when the season tightens and the response has to come from within. [Read more 🡒]