A Final Four usually means there is some type of reset the next season, but that won’t be the case with the Illinois basketball program.
Brad Underwood lost an All-American and another starting guard, but he has done a great job reloading and keeping most of the Illini roster from last season.
Even with the great retention and a huge transfer portal get, Illinois has been hustling when it comes to fresh talent in 2026. We have pulled in five freshmen, with the latest being Zavier Zens.
The Zens addition means there will be some type of shuffling in the projected starting lineup for next season.
Here is the projected Illinois basketball lineup with the addition of Zavier Zens
No. 1 Guard
Starter: Stefan Vaaks (SO)
While Illinois is losing two key players in the backcourt, adding someone like Stefan Vaaks is going to be invaluable.
Vaaks played 31 games as a true freshman last season with Providence. He averaged 15.8 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.5 rebounds per game. Illinois had a big guard in Keaton Wagler, who was 6-foot-6, leading the charge in the point guard role. I could see that being Vaaks in 2026-27.
Backup: Lucas Morillo (FR)
Lucas Morillo would give Illinois another huge guard who can do everything a traditional point guard can do and more.
As a senior in high school, Morillo averaged 17.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He is the versatile guard Underwood is always looking for, and his freshman campaign should be quite productive.
No. 2 Guard
Starter: Quentin Coleman (FR)
Even with the great retention, Illinois should get big-time contributions from the class of 2026 in 2026-27. I think Quentin Coleman could very well snag a starting job from day one.
I have Coleman starting at the No. 2 spot. I could see Underwood going with Jake Davis here and giving the program three starting seniors, but Coleman has the talent and ability to start for the Orange and Blue. He could easily be an All-Big Ten type of player.
Backup: Brandon Lee (SO)
It is hard to determine how big a role Brandon Lee will have on the Illini next season, but there clearly wasn’t a ton of trust with Underwood.
I think Lee could be the primary backup at the No. 2 spot. He did see action in 18 games, but he wasn’t the freshman who caught on. Year two is going to be so important for Lee with the Illinois program.
Backup: Ethan Brown (FR)
Wagler distorted the expectations of Illinois freshmen. Not every freshman will be a superstar in year one. With the depth Illinois has, I think Ethan Brown plays early in blowout wins but then takes a redshirt.
No. 3 Wing
Starter: Andrej Stojakovic (SR)
What a huge retention for Illinois. Andrej Stojakovic started to come into his own toward the end of last season, and he was a huge reason we got to the Final Four.
Stojakovic is going to be a full-time starter in 2026-27. Davis is likely to head back to the bench, and Stojakovic is going to be a huge contributor. As long as he is driving to the basket, this kid will make a difference in the Illinois offense.
Backup: Jake Davis (SR)
Davis is listed as a primary backup at the No. 3 spot, but honestly, he is a utility player who can play the No. 2 through No. 4 for Illinois.
I loved what Davis brought to the Illini last season. He played in every game and averaged 19.6 minutes each night. Davis is always ready to step into a starting role, and he is someone who forms into whatever Underwood needs. This kid is the definition of a glue guy.
No. 4 Forward
Starter: David Mirkovic (SO)
Illinois is getting back one of the most eccentric players in program history next season. When David Mirkovic announced his return, the Illini instantly became a strong favorite to win the national title.
Mirkovic was right there with Wagler as one of the most impactful players on the Illinois basketball team. He averaged 13.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. All three numbers were in the top three on the roster. Mirkovic is going to be an All-American.
Backup: Jason Jakstys (SO)
The biggest beneficiary of the Ty Rodgers transfer portal departure is likely to be Jason Jakstys. He played in nine games last season but went down with an injury.
I don’t think we would have seen much of Jakstys even if he was healthy, but there is a chance he could see time behind Mirkovic at the No. 4 spot. My guess is that there will be a rotation of Mirkovic and the Ivisic brothers at the No. 4 and No. 5.
Backup: Landon Davis (FR)
Depth is plentiful heading into next season. Landon Davis could be a pretty good player for the Illini, but he should take a redshirt because of need.
Backup: Zavier Zens (FR)
Zavier Zens was a late addition to the Illinois class of 2026. I think he could see early time in blowout games, but Zens will ultimately take a redshirt.
No. 5 Center
Starter: Tomislav Ivisic (SR)
The development into a dominant big man is going to be fun to watch next season. Tomislav Ivisic showed his ability last season, but with another offseason of work, he should be one of the best big men in the country.
My hope is that Ivisic forms into a Brook Lopez-type player. He can bang around in the paint and hold his own, but he is also a threat from the outside for a couple of deep shots per game. Consistency is going to be key for Ivisic.
Backup: Zvonimir Ivisic (SR)
It is such a luxury to have two 7-foot-1 or taller big men who can stretch the floor. Zvonimir Ivisic is returning for another year, and he should be able to see plenty of playing time at both the No. 4 and No. 5 spots.
Ivisic averaged 6.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season. The area that was most valuable was his defense. Ivisic was a rim protector, averaging 1.9 blocks per game. I want to see that number jump to above 2.0 blocks per game next season.
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