Illini forward David Mirkovic announces return for 2026 season

nois freshman David Mirkovic announced today that he will return to Illinois for his sophomore season.

This is huge news for the Illini, as Mirkovic was the top priority to bring back following his monster freshman season. The Montenegrin forward earned All-Big Ten Freshman honors after averaging 13.3 points, eight rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game across 37 contests. Those numbers will likely jump with improvement this summer and a larger role next season.

“I would say a dangerous summer is in front of me and a dangerous season, I know I have so, so, so much room for improvement”, said David Mirkovic.

Mirkovic has an opportunity to be one of the best players in the league next season. He is a 6’9” forward who can handle the ball like a guard and shoot the three better than most players at his position. He creates matchup problems that the Illini staff will look to exploit early and often in the 2026–27 season.

The 6’9” forward attempted 4.1 threes per game and shot an impressive 37.5% from beyond the arc. According to CBB Analytics, his three-point percentage ranked in the 81st percentile last season.

Mirkovic’s rebounding and passing ability at his size is what truly separates him. His 16.2 assist percentage ranked in the 93rd percentile nationally, drawing comparisons to NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.

Mirkovic was also one of the best rebounders in the country, averaging 2.5 offensive rebounds and 5.5 defensive rebounds per game. Brad Underwood emphasizes offensive rebounding, and Mirkovic was a major reason why Illinois ranked No. 3 nationally in offensive rebounding percentage.

A Dangerous season ahead

Illinois should give Mirkovic much more freedom in year two, and I expect him to initiate the offense more. There is still room for improvement on the defensive end, but his defense showed progress during the NCAA Tournament. According to CBB Analytics, his block percentage improved from 1.5% to 4.4% over the last five games, while his Hakeem percentage (the sum of steal and block percentage) increased from 2.4% to 5.2%.

The Illini got their guy back. David Mirkovic is in for a big year at Illinois and should make a strong case for an All-Big Ten team selection next March.

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