Illinois Fighting Illini News

Brad Underwood believes he landed the 'best offensive player' in the transfer portal Illinois head coach Brad Underwood wholeheartedly believes that the Fighting Illini landed the best offensive addition they could have from...

21 HOURS AGO • WRITINGILLINI.COM

2026 College Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker: Oregon Lands Arizona Transfer

The college basketball transfer portal officially opened on April 7, and we're keeping up with all the moves here.

1 DAY AGO • FOX SPORTS

2026 College Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker: Oregon Lands Arizona Transfer

Men's College Basketball Rankings: Florida, Illinois Highlight Post-Portal Top 25

With the portal closed and the NBA early-entry deadline in the rearview mirror, FOX Sports' Casey Jacobsen shares his way-too-early men's co...

2 DAYS AGO • FOX SPORTS

Men's College Basketball Rankings: Florida, Illinois Highlight Post-Portal Top 25

Andrej Stojakovic - Enters name into NBA Draft Stojakovic has entered his name into the 2026 NBA Draft, according to Jeff Borzello of ESPN.

Impact Stojakovic may not re-enroll at Illinois after all. During mid-April, the junior himself announced that he would be back to the Fighting Illini. While that is far from certain now, there is still at least a chance that the Illinois team gets him back next season.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Ranking the Best Landing Spots For Top Men's College Basketball Transfers

Here are the 20 best landings spots and fits for players in the NCAA transfer portal who have already committed to their new school.

APRIL 23 • FOX SPORTS

Ranking the Best Landing Spots For Top Men's College Basketball Transfers

Brandon Lee - Enters transfer portal Lee is entering the transfer portal, per Joe Tipton of On3.com.

Impact Lee will leave Illinois after averaging just 1.7 points across 4.2 minutes in 18 games. He will look to be more involved next season with whichever program he ends up with.

APRIL 19 • ROTOWIRE

Andrej Stojakovic - Back to Illinois Stojakovic will be back to Illinois for his 2026-27 season, according to the team's announcement Friday.

Impact Unlike seasons past, Stojakovic will not change teams off the heels of an electric campaign that saw Illinois advance to the Final Four. From a role perspective, it also makes sense, as occasional bumps up and down the Illini's starting lineup did not stop him from averaging 13.5 points for a stacked squad. With the Illinois team also making significant changes to its squad, there is potential for Stojakovic to establish a consistent starting role in what is projected to be his last season of college basketball.

APRIL 17 • ROTOWIRE

Jake Davis - Set to return to Illinois Davis will return to Illinois for the 2026-27 season, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com.

Impact Davis is one of four Illinois players who announced their returns to the program for the 2026-27 season, joining Zvonimir Ivisic, Tomislav Ivisic and David Mirkovic. Davis started in 22 of his 37 appearances with Illinois in 2025-26, averaging 5.4 points and 2.2 rebounds across 19,6 minutes per game while shooting 40.6 percent from three-point range.

APRIL 15 • ROTOWIRE

Zvonimir Ivisic - Returning to Illinois Ivisic will return to Illinois for the 2026-27 season, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com.

Impact The Ivisic brothers will return to Illinois for the 2026-27 season in hopes of making another Final Four run. Zvonimir was a backup for the Fighting Illini in 2025-26 but posted decent numbers, averaging 6.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game in 37 appearances (four starts) while logging 17.2 minutes per contest.

APRIL 15 • ROTOWIRE

Tomislav Ivisic - Returning to Illinois Ivisic will return to Illinois for the 2026-27 season, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com.

Impact Ivisic was unable to repeat the impressive numbers he posted in his first year with the program, but he was solid in 2025-26 with 10.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.6 blocks per contest. He should play a key role for Illinois in 2026-27 once again.

APRIL 15 • ROTOWIRE

CBS writer gives Illinois yet another reason to go all-in for John Blackwell After a season with major success on the basketball court, there is one thing Illinois fans are going to wonder. Can Brad Underwood and the...

APRIL 15 • WRITINGILLINI.COM

David Mirkovic - Returning for sophomore season Mirkovic is returning to Illinois for his sophomore season, Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Mirkovic will run it back with the Illini after a very successful freshman campaign. The 6-foot-9 forward was not only a starter in all but one game, but he also averaged 13.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists on a Final Four squad. He'll look to be an even more dominant leader of Illinois' frontcourt in his sophomore year.

APRIL 15 • ROTOWIRE

Stefan Vaaks gives Illinois exactly what it needed: scoring, size, and a new offensive identity Stefan Vaaks will be part of the Illinois Fighting Illini when the 2026-27 basketball season gets underway.

APRIL 13 • BUSTINGBRACKETS.COM

"Terrible choice," "Not strong enough yet": College hoops fans react as Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler declares for 2026 NBA draft Keaton Wagler is heading to the NBA. According to Shams Charania, the Illinois Fighting Illini freshman guard has declared for the 2026 NBA draft.

APRIL 12 • SPORTSKEEDA.COM

Stefan Vaaks - Heading to Champaign Vaaks has committed to play for Illinois for the 2026-27 season, per Joe Tipton of On3.com.

Impact Vaaks will join the Fighting Illini following a single season with Providence. The 6-foot-7 freshman had a dynamic first year at the collegiate level this past season, averaging 15.8 points per game across 31 contests for the Friars. Vaaks will retain three years of eligibility with the Illini moving forward.

APRIL 12 • ROTOWIRE

Keaton Wagler - Declares for NBA Draft Wagler has declared for the NBA Draft, per The Field of 68.

Impact This was to be expected from Wagler after the former three-star freshman blew up out of nowhere and became one of the best point guards in the nation. The 6-foot-6 Kansas native averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists while posting 45/40/80 shooting splits. He's an extremely gifted scorer, but also thrived in a facilitator role for the Illini when they needed him to run the offense in the latter half of the season. Wagler is expected to be a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

APRIL 11 • ROTOWIRE

Illinois makes short list of teams without transfer losses 2 days into the portal Brad Underwood and the Illinois Fighting Illini have done an incredible job with recruiting and retention after their appearance in the Fina...

APRIL 9 • WRITINGILLINI.COM

Best NCAA Transfer Portal Fits for Wisconsin G John Blackwell

Wisconsin's John Blackwell has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Here are the three best fits for the standout guard.

APRIL 9 • FOX SPORTS

Best NCAA Transfer Portal Fits for Wisconsin G John Blackwell

Men's CBK AP Top 25: National Champion Michigan is Final No. 1 of 2025-2026

Michigan is No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for the 2025-26 season after winning the program’s firs...

APRIL 7 • FOX SPORTS

Men's CBK AP Top 25: National Champion Michigan is Final No. 1 of 2025-2026

Everything Happening in the Big Ten Last Time Michigan Won NCAA Men's Tournament

Michigan won the NCAA Men's Tournament for the first time since 1989; here's everything that was happening in the Big Ten 37 years ago.

APRIL 7 • FOX SPORTS

Everything Happening in the Big Ten Last Time Michigan Won NCAA Men's Tournament

Men's College Basketball Rankings: Illinois, Duke Highlight Way-Too-Early Top 25

FOX Sports' Casey Jacobsen shares his way-too-early men's college basketball rankings for next season.

APRIL 7 • FOX SPORTS

Men's College Basketball Rankings: Illinois, Duke Highlight Way-Too-Early Top 25

Illinois HC Brad Underwood's Final Four message is much bigger than college basketball | Sporting News Brad Underwood praised his team’s character and expressed deep emotion after Illinois’ 71–62 loss to UConn in the Final Four. It marked the...

APRIL 6 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Illinois fans cannot help but give Brad Underwood his flowers for an amazing season It may not have ended the way that anyone wanted it to, but there is so much to be proud of for this Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketba...

APRIL 5 • WRITINGILLINI.COM

UConn must overcome Michigan's dominance to establish a basketball dynasty in national title game

There’s a dynasty brewing in college basketball

APRIL 5 • Associated Press

Despite heartbreaking loss, Keaton Wagler still managed to make history vs. UConn The Illinois Fighting Illini were devastated by the UConn Huskies last night, but star freshman Keaton Wagler was still able to pull off som...

APRIL 5 • WRITINGILLINI.COM

NEWS

SCHEDULE

STANDINGS

ROSTER

VIDEOS

STATS

ODDS

PLAYER NEWS

GAME LOG

2026 College Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker: Oregon Lands Arizona Transfer

Men's College Basketball Rankings: Florida, Illinois Highlight Post-Portal Top 25

Ranking the Best Landing Spots For Top Men's College Basketball Transfers

Best NCAA Transfer Portal Fits for Wisconsin G John Blackwell

Men's CBK AP Top 25: National Champion Michigan is Final No. 1 of 2025-2026

Everything Happening in the Big Ten Last Time Michigan Won NCAA Men's Tournament

Men's College Basketball Rankings: Illinois, Duke Highlight Way-Too-Early Top 25

UConn must overcome Michigan's dominance to establish a basketball dynasty in national title game