Just two games into the 2026-27 season, and the hype around the Illinois basketball program is palpable.
The Illini have started quickly, going 2-0 in the first two contests and averaging a cool 116 points per game. That will obviously slow down a bit as we head into tougher competition, but what won’t slow down is Illinois’ prospects for the 2027 NBA Draft.
Over the past week, ESPN released its first 2027 NBA Draft big board. Illinois was well-represented, and it is Quentin Coleman who is carrying the torch for the Orange and Blue when it comes to elite talent.
ESPN has Coleman as the No. 6 player entering the 2027 NBA Draft. This makes sense, as his short time with Illinois thus far has been impressive.
Through two games, Coleman has shown a command of the Illinois offense. His speed and aggression have led to him averaging 16.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game.
With Jake Davis on the mend, Coleman’s presence in the backcourt becomes even more crucial for Illinois moving forward.
Coleman isn’t the only Illinois player mentioned on the NBA Draft big board. There is a plethora of other talent ready to make a name, too.
ESPN eyes David Mirkovic as the No. 32 player on the board right now. That puts him just outside the first round. Once Mirkovic can suit up this season, he is sure to wow and rise in the rankings.
Illinois has two other players in the top 60, which puts them in range of being a draft pick. Stefan Vaaks is at No. 57, and Andrej Stojakovic is at No. 59.
I think Vaaks has more of an NBA skillset than Stojakovic. Both have great size at 6-foot-7, but Vaaks’ outside shooting ability is going to put him over the top. It wouldn’t shock me to see Vaaks as an early second round pick, if not rising to the first round.
At the end of the day, I think Stojakovic’s inability to shoot from deep will hinder him in his quest to get drafted. He is a great downhill player who can get to the free throw line, but he needs to prove he can consistently shoot from three-point range to secure a spot in the NBA Draft.
Illinois basketball has a couple of players who are knocking on the door of the top 60 NBA Draft prospects
So, for those counting at home, that is four projected NBA Draft picks for Illinois right now. That is a big number.
If the 2027 NBA Draft does play out like the big board, that would give Illinois the most draft picks in a single draft. It would also give us a first round pick in four straight NBA Drafts.
Don’t sleep on more Illini joining the party. While Illinois is projected to have four in the top 60 right now, there are a couple of other names to keep an eye on.
Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic check in at No. 80 and No. 81, respectively. As of right now, even without the big board, they wouldn’t get drafted.
Tomi had a chance to be a dynamic big man, but over the past year or so, he has transformed into more of a traditional big man. He lost his three-point touch, but his defensive abilities are shining more.
Zvonimir is more of a defensive stopper than his brother. He can also rebound much better than Tomi. Both have some massive flaws, but their size really stands out.
The 2027 NBA Draft is still pretty far out, but there is time for some of the Illinois players to continue to rise on the big board. Having four Illini projected to be selected and two on the outside looking in is a good start, though.
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