Illinois basketball is back producing NBA level talent

The NBA Draft Combine is supposed to be about measurements, shooting drills, and stock rising or falling.

But for Illinois basketball, this week has also brought some major validation.

Three participants in the 2026 NBA Draft Combine

For the first time since the 2005 Final Four team, Illinois had three players represented at the combine. And as Andrej Stojaković, Kylan Boswell, and Keaton Wagler spoke with the media, a common theme kept surfacing—the impact and culture of Illinois basketball.

Wagler may have said it best.

“It was definitely the best decision I’ve made in my basketball career,” he said of choosing Illinois. “It’s awesome to see how well it worked out.”

That feeling wasn’t isolated to just Keaton.

Kylan Boswell and Andrej Stoajkovic

Boswell delivered perhaps the strongest recruiting pitch possible when he said: “If you all are watching, come to Illinois—you can get to the league.” He added that his time in Champaign expanded his game and helped him develop “new weapons and abilities” in his arsenal.

And then there was Stojaković, whose NBA Draft decision still hangs over the offseason. “I’m in the draft with both feet right now,” he admitted, while also acknowledging, “Understanding what we have back at Illinois right now is extremely special.”

That’s the balancing act.

Stojaković made it clear his return announcement and draft declaration were “about having a plan either way.” But he also left little doubt about how he feels about the program.

“I love Illinois,” he said. “If I do go back, I’m looking forward to hopefully making more history with the team.”

At this point, Illinois basketball’s biggest recruiting pitch right now might just be the players it’s already developed. 

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