Illinois basketball secured the return of four key components of its Final Four core on Wednesday, including centers Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic, forward Jake Davis, and sophomore David Mirkovic. The group’s retention stabilizes a roster that recently lost All-American guard Keaton Wagler to the NBA Draft.
David Mirkovic used a Twitch stunt to announce his return
Mirkovic broke the news on Wednesday afternoon via a live Twitch stream that ended in a calculated cliffhanger. The 6-foot-9 forward began to discuss his future with his agent and staff before the video feed abruptly cut out.
A written memo appeared in place of the stream shortly after, mirroring a famous Michael Jordan announcement. The note contained only two words: “I’m back.”
The Montenegro native earned All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors last season. He averaged 13.3 points, eight rebounds, and 2.6 assists during the Illini’s run to the Final Four.
Why the Ivisic twins give Illinois a defensive edge
Tomislav Ivisic returns for a third season as a primary piece of the Illini’s five-out offense. The 7-foot, 255-pound stretch center averaged 10.4 points and 5.6 rebounds last year, though his raw numbers dipped as more talent entered the rotation.
Zvonimir Ivisic provides a different tactical advantage. While his twin brother is stouter on the block, Zvonimir is more athletic and ranks fourth in the country in block rate at 12.9%.
Last season, Zvonimir averaged 6.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks. Together, the twins give Illinois one of the most versatile center rotations in college basketball.
Returning players account for nearly half of last year’s production
Jake Davis also committed to a third season in Champaign. A transfer from Mercer, Davis started 21 of 36 games and remained a fixture in the starting lineup throughout the NCAA Tournament run.
He averaged 5.4 points and 2.2 rebounds, but his primary value lies in his perimeter shooting. Davis hit 40.6% of his three-point attempts (54-for-133), creating offensive gravity that opens lanes for other players.
These four returners represent 41.7% of the team’s scoring and 48.5% of its rebounds from the previous campaign.
Retention was the primary objective for the program. By keeping this core, Illinois maintains two NBA-potential centers and a potential All-American candidate in Mirkovic.
With the frontcourt set, the focus shifts to the backcourt
The roster faces significant holes in the guard rotation. Keaton Wagler, who averaged 17.9 points and 4.2 assists, declared for the NBA Draft over the weekend. Senior guard Kylan Boswell (12.3 points, 3.0 assists) is also departing, while Mihailo Petrovic and Toni Bilic entered the transfer portal.
Illinois has already moved to fill these gaps. The program added four-star Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks and top-35 recruit Quentin Coleman from the Class of 2026.
Pursuits continue for Wisconsin transfer guard John Blackwell. Landing Blackwell would likely cement the Illini as a top-10 roster and a primary title contender.
One critical decision remains. Andrej Stojakovic, who averaged 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds, has not yet confirmed his status for the 2026-27 season. He was a catalyst in the tournament, scoring 21 points against VCU and 17 against Iowa.
Who is left to decide their future with the Illini?
Rising senior Andrej Stojakovic is the most prominent player yet to make a decision. He was a star during the NCAA Tournament and averaged 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds last season.
How is Illinois replacing the production of Keaton Wagler?
The program has signed four-star transfer Stefan Vaaks and recruit Quentin Coleman. They are also actively pursuing Wisconsin transfer guard John Blackwell to bolster the backcourt.
