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With the whirlwind that often is the college basketball offseason underway, Illinois had an unexpectedly uneventful first week since the Final Four loss to UConn ended the 2025-26 season.
Then, the Illini lost two players to the portal and hit a huge home run. Here is every departure and addition thus far – and the next step for Illinois (as of April 12):
2025-26 Illini who aren’t returning for 2026-27
Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) dribbles the ball against UConn Huskies guard Malachi Smith (0) in the second half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Kylan Boswell (out of eligibility)
After two years at Arizona, Kylan Boswell returned home to Champaign and etched himself forever into Illini lore by helping his squad to a Final Four appearance in his senior season.
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Ben Humrichous (out of eligibility)
A reflection of the opportunities afforded by the current college hoops landscape, Ben Humrichous worked himself up from the NAIA level to mid-major, before spending two seasons with the Illini, where the growth he made was simply astonishing.
AJ Redd (out of eligibility)
Spending four years as an Illini, AJ Redd may have never cracked the rotation, but he became a mainstay of the program and an embodiment of Brad Underwood’s principles, playing a pivotal, behind-the-scenes role.
Keaton Wagler (declared for NBA draft)
One could not have scripted a better one-year stint in Champaign if they tried. Keaton Wagler’s freshman year at Illinois was one for the history books – but now he’s off to the big leagues.
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Mihailo Petrovic (transfer portal)
Unfortunately, Wagler’s brilliance had a ripple effect, as it meant Mihailo Petrovic, the expected lead guard, was unable to find his footing in Champaign. As a result, he has entered the transfer portal.
