Illinois’ 2026-27 season is still months away, but the conversation in Champaign is already moving fast. After the program’s first Final Four trip in 21 years, the Illini are being talked about like a team that should take another step.
If that jump is going to happen, though, it won’t come from one or two names carrying the load. It has to come from everywhere.
That starts with David Mirkovic, whose reportedly new and improved body has become an early talking point. If that physical upgrade shows up the way Illinois wants it to - with halfcourt dunks, perimeter defense and real two-way force - the ceiling gets a lot higher in a hurry. The source material puts it plainly: that version of Mirkovic looks like an All-American and a first-round NBA Draft pick.
Lincoln Williams is another player whose value may be tied to the defensive end. He has the tools, even if his slim frame could create problems in certain matchups. The bigger question is how fast he can absorb Illinois’ defensive scheme and turn that into immediate impact, even if his role stays limited.
Andrej Stojakovic brings a different kind of pressure point. The question around him is the same one that keeps coming back: can he get his three-point percentage to a respectable level?
If he does, the source suggests both he and Illinois could be headed for historic seasons. The clip included with the reporting only reinforces the idea of what he can mean when he’s rolling.
Stefan Vaaks, a Providence transfer, enters with obvious offensive gifts. But Illinois’ ceiling will depend on more than scoring. His rebounding and defense have to come along, because if he can’t hold his own there, the Illini may not get where they want to go.
There’s also a leadership angle with Blake Fagbemi. Even as a sophomore, he could matter as a voice in the locker room. He may not be a regular on the floor, but his background - a state champion at Benet and a lead guard known for his IQ - points to a player who can extend the coaching staff in his own way.
Quentin Coleman’s role is less settled. With Vaaks bringing lead-guard traits, Coleman could slide into more of an off-ball job.
That could mean spot-up shooting with some secondary playmaking, or it could still leave room for him to handle some of the primary ball-handling duties. The source leaves both possibilities on the table.
Tomislav Ivisic is another key piece Illinois needs to get right. He didn’t fall off completely last season, but he also didn’t fully sustain his identity. The hope is that he gets back to being a steady top producer in 2026-27.
Jake Davis, meanwhile, already has a defined role. The question is whether he can squeeze more value out of it without changing what he is.
Illinois knows exactly how he fits. Now it’s about whether he can add a little more punch to those minutes.
The Illini also need someone to grab the eighth-man spot, and Zavier Zens is in that conversation. His shooting, IQ and college-ready frame make him a real candidate to sneak into the rotation.
Lucas Morillo presents a different puzzle. He can do a little bit of everything, which makes him a Swiss Army Knife type of player.
The issue is that he doesn’t yet do any one thing at a level that guarantees minutes. Whether his versatility is enough to earn a consistent role will be one of the summer and fall questions.
Landon Davis has upside that jumps off the page. His size and spring point to real potential on defense and the glass, and if his shooting turns into a legitimate weapon, he could force his way into a role sooner rather than later.
Jason Jakstys may not have a clear lane with the Ivisic twins and Mirkovic in front of him, but Illinois will still need him at some point. Whether it comes because of foul trouble or health issues, those spare minutes matter, and the Illini will need him ready when his number is called.
Ethan Brown has also drawn attention early in the summer. Coleman and Morillo came in with more buzz, and Zens was the late riser people kept talking about, but Brown has been the freshman turning heads. The question now is whether that summer momentum carries into actual game action once winter arrives.
And then there’s the repeat issue that can’t really be avoided: Zvonimir Ivisic and Stojakovic both dealt with the same problem in 2025-26, and for Big Z, the answer has to be better three-point efficiency. Twenty-eight percent from deep simply isn’t enough for a 7-footer who takes that many.
In Other News...
Illinois Has No Room For Portal Misses In 2026
Illinois has spent the early stretch of portal season trying to patch the kinds of holes that can define a fall before it even starts. Safety James Finley, quarterback Katin Houser, kicker Ethan Moczulski and linebacker Robert Edmonson all arrived with different backgrounds, but each fits a clear need as the Illini look to reload for 2026 after key departures left the roster thinner in a few critical spots.
The challenge now is less about adding bodies than getting the right answers from them. Houser brings the most obvious upside after a productive season at East Carolina, while Finley, Moczulski and Edmonson are all expected to help stabilize areas where Illinois could not afford many misfires. In a portal cycle like this, the margin for error is small, and the Illini will be counting on these moves to look a lot better by the time the season arrives. [Read more 🡒]