What it means: Four from Final Four core return to Illini for 2026-27 season
247Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Four key members of Illinois basketball's Final Four core—David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis—have announced their return for the 2026-27 season, reinforcing the team's foundation.
- Keaton Wagler, a projected top-10 NBA Draft pick, decided to leave for the NBA, describing it as a very tough decision.
- The returning players contribute significantly, accounting for 41.7% of last season's scoring, 48.5% of rebounds, and 44.3% of minutes, bolstering Illinois as one of the most stable teams nationally.
- The Balkan trio of the Ivisic twins and Mirkovic forms one of the best frontcourts in the country, while Davis provides essential team cohesion.
- Collectively, these four players bring extensive experience, having played 292 games with 171 starts and over 6,200 minutes of Division-I basketball, mostly at Illinois.
