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This was one of the most memorable Illinois seasons in recent memory. But with the offseason already in full swing, what’s next?
Scholarship-wise, each team is allowed up to 15 scholarships. Three scholarships will become available following the departure of graduating seniors Kylan Boswell, Ben Humrichous, and AJ Redd.
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Keaton Wagler’s exit to the NBA adds another. Wagler, after a slow start, became a key part of Illinois’ success. He led the Illini in scoring with 17.9 points per game and 4.2 assists. Those numbers will be hard to replace. And when you add Kylan and Ben’s numbers, you get 36.0 PPG (44%) and 8 APG (57%). That is a lot of stats to replace offensively and defensively. Kylan was a shutdown defender, and Ben was much improved over last season. Wagler was improving defensively every game.
With Mihailo Petrovic and midseason signee Toni Bilic entering the transfer portal, it’s pretty clear where Brad Underwood & Co. need to build.
So what is left?
From the starters, Jake Davis, Tomislav Ivišić, and David Mirković are expected back. Off the bench, Zvonimir Ivišić, Andrej Stojaković, Brandon Lee, and Blake Fagbemi return, with Ty Rodgers and Jason Jakstys coming off injury-plagued seasons. That’s a solid core—assuming all remain in Champaign.
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One intriguing possibility is Naz Rankin, the 5-foot-10, 161‑pound Morgan Park standout who averaged 23.2 points, 3.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.6 steals. Rankin signed with Illinois football as a wide receiver but has expressed interest in playing basketball as well.
Incoming help
Recruits
The Illini have four high school signees for the 2026-27 season. Let’s start with a pair of 4-star prospects.
Quintin Coleman, 4-star, 6-foot-4, 180 pounds, from the Principle High School in St. Louis. He is ranked between 34th and 38th nationally. The Illini recruited Coleman earlier, but he committed to Wake Forest. He recently de-committed from the Demon Deacons and signed with Illinois. Coleman possesses a very smooth, effortless jumper from any range (shooting 39% in his EYBL league). He also has good ball skills and is a strong…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/illinois-already-building-2026-27-132143980.html
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Publish date : 2026-04-13 13:21:00
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