10 players who could help Illinois win the transfer portal
What portal finds could make Illinois offseason champions of the college basketball world?
MADISON, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 28: John Blackwell #25 of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts after scoring against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the second half of the game at Kohl Center on January 28, 2026 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images ‘Tis the season for words like “bag” and “speed dating” in reference to college hoops portal activity. The Illini are always an ever-present force in Portal Kombat.
Whether it’s their most notorious misses (RayJ Dennis, AJ Storr, Josh Dix) or their most glorious hits (Terrence Shannon Jr. , Marcus Domask, Andrej Stojakovic), Illinois is a major factor in college basketball’s version of free agency every year. Yes, retention is the most important factor.
Bringing back Andrej Stojakovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, David Mirkovic, and Jake Davis is the priority. And of course, making a Final Four run changes the calculus specifically. It raises the program’s national profile.
More eyes are on Illinois than ever before. It likely increased donor desire to pony up to keep the deep tournament runs going (more on that later). It is proof of concept for Brad and Tyler Underwood’s system.
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