Illinois Basketball Boasts Three Players in CBS’s Top 100 and 1

With just six days until their season opener against Jackson State (11/3), Illinois Basketball is picking up some well-deserved national buzz around the talent Brad Underwood has assembled for the 2025-26 season.

On Tuesday afternoon, CBS Sports released its “Top 100 and 1 players entering the 2025–26 season“, and the Fighting Illini made a serious statement by earning three spots on the list. With a mix of seasoned veterans, highly touted prep talent, and a brutal schedule built to battle-test them, this team has the pieces to make real noise come March.

That is, of course, if Underwood’s staff can pull all this talent together.

So, who are the three Illini that ranked among the nation’s elite? Isaac Trotter, David Cobb, and the rest of the crew CBS crew breaks down the trio, and what they bring to the table for Illinois in 2025–26.

Illinois Basketball. Brad Underwood. Photo Credit: Illini Basketball on Instagram. (@Illinibasketball).

No. 31 – Tomislav Ivisic

2024 Stats: 13 PPG – 7.7 RPG – 2.3 APG – 49% FG – 35.7% 3-PP

CBS’s David Cobb States: “No one embodies the trend of seasoned international players migrating to college basketball better than Ivisic. At 21 years old, the Croatian sensation enjoyed a breakout debut campaign last year, averaging 13 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.2 blocks for the Illini. With a full offseason in a Big Ten strength program under his belt, expect greater consistency from the seven-footer. He’ll be joined by his brother, Zvonimir Ivisic, an Arkansas transfer with similar size and versatility. The two will give Illini coach Brad Underwood a strong 1-2 punch in the frontcourt.”

No. 60 –  Andrej Stojakovic

2024 Stats: 17.9 PPG – 4.7 RPG – 1.8 APG – 42.7% FG – 31.8% 3-PP

CBS’s David Cobb States, “Stojakovic should benefit from finally having comparable talent around him as he suits up for his third program in three years. The son of Sacramento Kings legend Peja Stojakovic owns a deep offensive bag. At 6-7, he will pop onto NBA Draft radars assuming he elevates his career 3-point mark of 32.2% while playing for the Illini.”

No. 72 – Kylan Boswell

2024 Stats: 12.3 PPG – 4.8 RPG – 3.4 APG – 42.7% FG -24.5% 3-PP

CBS’s Isaac Trotter States: “Boswell is a lockdown point-of-attack defender, who became a well-rounded offensive weapon in Year 1 at Illinois. Boswell posted the best offensive efficiency mark of his career, despite a jumper completely abandoning him for long stretches. Thanks to the Year 2 transfer bump, Boswell could be one of the Big Ten’s premier guards in 2025-26. Everyone knows he can still rain 3-pointers, and when that comes back, he’ll be a total nightmare on both ends.”

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