Andrej Stojakovic Is Back For Illinois, And Nobody in College Hoops Is Ready For It

Alright, Emerald City fam, sometimes you gotta tip your cap to wild stuff happening elsewhere! The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball squad pulled off some seriously unexpected magic last season: a 28-9 record, third in the Big Ten, and a Final Four run in the NCAA Tournament! Coach Brad Underwood had them absolutely buzzing. Now, this summer, they're trying to build on that momentum, but they're doing it without two major pieces.

Big Shoes to Fill for Illini Offense

The biggest gut punch is losing breakout star point guard Keaton Wagler to the 2026 NBA Draft. He was a beast, averaging 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. He's projected mid-to-late lottery, and that's a huge hole. They also lose 6-foot-2 guard Kylan Boswell, who chipped in 12.3 points, 4 boards, and 3 assists before graduating. That's a ton of production just walking away, which is tough.

Surprise Returns and Sharpshooting Transfers

But here's where it gets interesting! It's rare to keep a talented player who's bounced around, yet Andrej Stojakovic is back! This is his third school in three years, and he's sticking around after dropping 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and an assist per game last season. Big win for them! Plus, Montenegrin big man David Mirkovic also returns, bringing 13.3 points, 8

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rebounds, and 2 assists. That's a solid front court foundation. New via the Transfer Portal is Stefan Vaaks, a 6-foot-7 shooting guard who put up 15.8 points in his only collegiate season at Providence. He models his game after Luka Dončić, but get this: 8.4 of his 12.3 shots were from beyond the arc! He shot them at a decent 35 percent, but that's a LOT of threes. You gotta hope that number evens out, but he clearly has range.

A Five-Star Freshman Joins the Squad

Rounding out the roster is the #20 recruiting class, led by 5-star guard Quentin Coleman. This 6-foot-4 talent from St. Louis uses his quickness for defense, getting out in transition, and can stroke it from deep with a smooth form. He's also an absolute beast on the boards for a guard, averaging 11.4 rebounds per game in the FIBA U18 AmeriCup tournament. Seriously, 11.4 boards? Wild!

What's Next for the Illini?

So, the Illini are in a transition year, but with Stojakovic returning and some serious talent coming in, it's not all doom and gloom. They'll trek to Eugene this season to face the Ducks, but the date is unknown. It's gonna be fascinating to see how Coach Underwood blends these pieces, especially with Vaaks launching from deep and Coleman bringing that two-way game. This team could be a real wild card, and everyone will be watching to see if they can catch that Final Four magic again. Go Illini, for now!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.