It has been fun seeing Illinois basketball talent not only do well on the court, but also head to the next level and see their name on the back of an NBA jersey.
Brad Underwood has put together a great program in Champaign. The Illini are consistently in the running for talented players, and the success on the court is in rarified air right now.
After a great year that resulted in a Final Four run, Illinois is projected to have three players selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, according to ESPN’s latest mock draft.
Keaton Wagler is obviously the top pick. Most mock drafts have him going No. 5 overall to the Los Angeles Clippers, and that remains strong for much of the past month or so.
Illinois is then projected to get Andrej Stojakovic and Kylan Boswell picked late in the second round. Stojakovic is going No. 50 overall to the Toronto Raptors, and Boswell is selected No. 58 overall to the New Orleans Pelicans.
I remember just about a half-decade ago that it was amazing when Illinois just got one player in the NBA Draft. In 2026, that number could be a total of three players selected.
This isn’t a usual number for the program throughout history, either. In fact, the last time Illinois had three players selected in the NBA Draft was back in 1990. Kendall Gill went No. 5 overall, and Stephen Bardo and Marcus Liberty both went in the second round, back-to-back, No. 41 and No. 42.
Think about that for a second. 37 years ago was the last time Illinois had three players selected in the NBA Draft. That clock could easily be reset this year.
Andrej Stojakovic could be the deciding factor if Illinois basketball gets three players selected in the 2026 NBA Draft
It would be amazing for Illinois to get three names called in the NBA Draft in June. That would be a testament to what Underwood has built in Champaign.
Stojakovic could foil that plan, though. This wouldn’t be a bad thing, but Stojakovic still hasn’t decided what he wants to do. He has one leg in the NBA pool already, but the life raft of the Illini still floats out there, ready to catch him.
Regardless of what Stojakovic decides, Illinois basketball is in a good position. We either get the talented wing back for one more season, or the Illini have three players selected in the 2026 NBA Draft. What an enviable predicament.
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