Basketball
Illinois basketball news: Forward Toni Bilic officially joins the team
Bilic will sit out the rest of the 2025-2026 season to focus on strength and conditioning.
NEWS: Illinois basketball has officially shared that Croatian forward Toni Bilic has arrived in the United States and will be with the team. The official Illini basketball team social media pages posted a brief video of Toni announcing his arrival while at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Bilic is a long-term addition for the Illini. He plans to sit out the 2025-2026 season as he focuses on getting acclimated to the United States and overall strength.
When Toni Bilic officially signed with Illinois basketball, Brad Underwood shared the following statement:
“Toni is a multi-positional, skilled player who we are excited to have join us in practice,” Underwood said. “He comes from a basketball family; he has good feel for the game and a high IQ. He is a downhill, slasher-type player with a high motor. Toni will jump in right away with Coach Fletch in the weight room; he has a high ceiling and is ready to get to work.”
Bilic is a skilled wing who last played with KK Cedevita Junior Zagreb in Croatia. While playing there, he averaged 3.0 points and 1.5 rebounds while shooting 58% from the field in just more than eight minutes per contest
Â
Our guy is here!
Welcome, Toni, to the program! pic.twitter.com/0t7BTzQbs3
— Illinois Men’s Basketball (@IlliniMBB) January 14, 2026
Thank you for reading Armchair Illini! The Armchair team is proud to partner with Hamilton Walker’s Seafood and Spirits. Reserve your table HERE. Enter our home game giveaways on our social media pages to win a $50 gift card.
We are also proud to partner with the Campus Ink Illini NIL Store! Use the code: ARMCHAIRILLINI for 15% off your purchase. Please subscribe to the Armchair Illini Podcast on YouTube here.
Above all, for feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher at alexkyi13@gmail.com. Additionally, please use our Seatgeek code for $20 off your purchase on Seatgeek.com: ARMCHAIRILLINOIS. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest-growing Illinois media outlets around.
Finally, subscribe to our newsletter here for more Illinois news! Go Illini!
-
Basketball1 day agoThree Illinois basketball players appear in ESPN’s Latest 2026 NBA Mock Draft
-
Basketball5 days agoIllini wing Andrej Stojakovic enters 2026 NBA Draft
-
Basketball2 days agoThe Secret Weapon Behind Illinois Basketball’s Elite Eight & Final Four Runs
-
Basketball7 days agoIllini Basketball Recruiting: Quinton Kitt Set for EYBL Session 1
-
Football4 days agoIllinois Football Hosting Unique Transfer Portal Visitor
-
Football6 days agoIllini EDGE Gabe Jacas drafted by the New England Patriots
-
Football3 days agoFormer Illini WR Hank Beatty signs UDFA deal with Tennessee Titans
-
Basketball10 hours agoWould a 76-Team Bracket Have Rewritten Illinois Basketball History?
