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Apr. 22—CHAMPAIGN — The transfer portal closes at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, ending 30 days of men's college basketball chaos. But that's really just the beginning.
What actually ends is the window to enter the portal, which more than 2,200 players have done, to date.
There is, however, no defined timetable to find a new college basketball home. Unless you're chasing a bag. Eventually, all these teams throwing around millions of dollars in an inflated transfer market will run out of money. At least one would think.
Great Osobor and former Illini Coleman Hawkins banking a reported $2 million apiece last season at Washington and Kansas State, respectively, is chump change a year later. That might only get you a high-end rotational piece. Stars are reportedly asking for at least $3 million if not more.
Illinois, one might presume, should have money to spend. The primary investment in the last month has been in retention, with Kylan Boswell, Tomislav Ivisic, Ty Rodgers and Jake Davis all opting for another season in Champaign.
Other moves have been ... slower to develop.
The Illini did sign Arkansas transfer Zvonimir Ivisic, pairing him in their frontcourt with his twin brother. They also secured a commitment from 19-year-old Montengrin forward David Mirkovic.
It's in line with Illinois coach Brad Underwood's roster-building pace a year ago when the major additions didn't come until May (Tomislav Ivisic and Kasparas Jakucionis) and June (Will Riley). But a flurry of big time, big money moves since the portal opened March 25 have happened mostly with Illinois as mere dabblers and observers.
Plenty of high-profile transfers linked at least in some way with the Illini have landed elsewhere. The latest was former North Carolina guard Ian Jackson, who picked St. John's on Monday.
Rick Pitino wants to turn the former five-star recruit into his next point guard. Jackson averaged 0.9 assists for the Tar Heels in 23.8 minutes per game last season. So maybe Illinois dodged a misguided-about-his-best-role bullet.
The answer to Illini fans' growing anxiety this spring about the 2025-26 roster that debuts in a little more than six months might soon be in the offing. California transfer Andrej Stojakovic, per multiple reports, will visit Champaign on Tuesday. Letting him leave without a deal in place would be a mistake.
Kentucky is reportedly out as a suitor after signing national champion guard Denzel Aberdeen out of Florida on Monday, but a 6-foot-7 wing coming off a breakout sophomore season with a former NBA star as a father means the Illini aren't the only ones who would covet Stojakovic. He's also exactly what Underwood and Co. need/want.
Experienced at the high-major level? Check.
Productive at said level? Check.
Positional size? Check.
Shooting? A TBD check, but his dad, Peja, was a two-time NBA three-point contest champ to go with his NBA title in 2011.
Balkan heritage? All of the checks.
Landing Stojakovic would reflect the type of addition other Big Ten teams have made in the last month.
It would also be salve for a fan base living and dying by every transfer rumor. But it would be just one more step in what should remain an active offseason.
Even with Stojakovic, Illinois would remain in the market for at least one more guard (if not two). A veteran presence (again, or two) both to pair with Boswell and also take some of the playmaking responsibility off his shoulders.
Then there's the matter of the two Illinois players — Ben Humrichous and Jason Jakstys — who have yet to officially announce their 2025-26 intentions. Jakstys took a planned redshirt this past season and should return, but college basketball in 2025 means the assumption a player isn't coming back until he explicitly says so (or let's the portal clock run out).
As for Humrichous, Underwood is on record, now multiple times, that he'd like the 6-9 forward back next season even if the role is different (i.e. potentially not quite as prominent). Humrichous can get a bonus year of eligibility thanks to Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia's successful suing the NCAA and getting a waiver for that extra season for anyone with non-NCAA experience.
The foundation for another strong season is there for Illinois. Getting Boswell and Tomislav Ivisic to return was an impactful 1-2 punch early in the offseason process. But expectations are higher now in Champaign. No one wants another 19 years to pass between Elite Eight appearances at the NCAA tournament.
The Illini don't have that caliber of a roster yet. Getting Stojakovic to say yes would be a step in that direction.
Continue reading...
What actually ends is the window to enter the portal, which more than 2,200 players have done, to date.
There is, however, no defined timetable to find a new college basketball home. Unless you're chasing a bag. Eventually, all these teams throwing around millions of dollars in an inflated transfer market will run out of money. At least one would think.
Great Osobor and former Illini Coleman Hawkins banking a reported $2 million apiece last season at Washington and Kansas State, respectively, is chump change a year later. That might only get you a high-end rotational piece. Stars are reportedly asking for at least $3 million if not more.
Illinois, one might presume, should have money to spend. The primary investment in the last month has been in retention, with Kylan Boswell, Tomislav Ivisic, Ty Rodgers and Jake Davis all opting for another season in Champaign.
Other moves have been ... slower to develop.
The Illini did sign Arkansas transfer Zvonimir Ivisic, pairing him in their frontcourt with his twin brother. They also secured a commitment from 19-year-old Montengrin forward David Mirkovic.
It's in line with Illinois coach Brad Underwood's roster-building pace a year ago when the major additions didn't come until May (Tomislav Ivisic and Kasparas Jakucionis) and June (Will Riley). But a flurry of big time, big money moves since the portal opened March 25 have happened mostly with Illinois as mere dabblers and observers.
Plenty of high-profile transfers linked at least in some way with the Illini have landed elsewhere. The latest was former North Carolina guard Ian Jackson, who picked St. John's on Monday.
Rick Pitino wants to turn the former five-star recruit into his next point guard. Jackson averaged 0.9 assists for the Tar Heels in 23.8 minutes per game last season. So maybe Illinois dodged a misguided-about-his-best-role bullet.
The answer to Illini fans' growing anxiety this spring about the 2025-26 roster that debuts in a little more than six months might soon be in the offing. California transfer Andrej Stojakovic, per multiple reports, will visit Champaign on Tuesday. Letting him leave without a deal in place would be a mistake.
Kentucky is reportedly out as a suitor after signing national champion guard Denzel Aberdeen out of Florida on Monday, but a 6-foot-7 wing coming off a breakout sophomore season with a former NBA star as a father means the Illini aren't the only ones who would covet Stojakovic. He's also exactly what Underwood and Co. need/want.
Experienced at the high-major level? Check.
Productive at said level? Check.
Positional size? Check.
Shooting? A TBD check, but his dad, Peja, was a two-time NBA three-point contest champ to go with his NBA title in 2011.
Balkan heritage? All of the checks.
Landing Stojakovic would reflect the type of addition other Big Ten teams have made in the last month.
It would also be salve for a fan base living and dying by every transfer rumor. But it would be just one more step in what should remain an active offseason.
Even with Stojakovic, Illinois would remain in the market for at least one more guard (if not two). A veteran presence (again, or two) both to pair with Boswell and also take some of the playmaking responsibility off his shoulders.
Then there's the matter of the two Illinois players — Ben Humrichous and Jason Jakstys — who have yet to officially announce their 2025-26 intentions. Jakstys took a planned redshirt this past season and should return, but college basketball in 2025 means the assumption a player isn't coming back until he explicitly says so (or let's the portal clock run out).
As for Humrichous, Underwood is on record, now multiple times, that he'd like the 6-9 forward back next season even if the role is different (i.e. potentially not quite as prominent). Humrichous can get a bonus year of eligibility thanks to Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia's successful suing the NCAA and getting a waiver for that extra season for anyone with non-NCAA experience.
The foundation for another strong season is there for Illinois. Getting Boswell and Tomislav Ivisic to return was an impactful 1-2 punch early in the offseason process. But expectations are higher now in Champaign. No one wants another 19 years to pass between Elite Eight appearances at the NCAA tournament.
The Illini don't have that caliber of a roster yet. Getting Stojakovic to say yes would be a step in that direction.
Continue reading...
