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Shams Charania: Illinois freshman guard Keaton Wagler – ranked No. 5 in ESPN's Top 100 – has declared for the 2026 NBA draft, his agency ProMondo Sports tells me and @JeremyWoo. Wagler led the 28-9 Fighting Illini to the Final Four for the first time since 2005.
Illinois men’s basketball is juggling lots of tasks and responsibilities ahead of tip-off on Saturday in the Final Four. Playing on basketball’s biggest stage comes with some pressure. Pressure, however, is nothing new for Illini junior guard Andrej Stojakovic. His last name alone has brought high expectations. Andrej’s father, Peja Stojakovic, is known as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. Peja, playing more than a decade of pro ball, made 1,760 career three-pointers. “I’ve dealt with that expectation and pressure my whole life,” Andrej told WCIA on Friday. “I haven’t really bought into anything that’s been said recently in the tournament.”
Jake Fischer: Sources: Neel Ganta is departing the Denver Nuggets’ front office to become the new general manager of Illinois men’s basketball. Ganta returns to the Illini program after previously serving as a graduate assistant.
A familiar face made his return to Champaign over the weekend. Chicago Bulls guard and former Illini basketball star Ayo Dosunmu met with fans on Saturday at the Gameday Spirit Store on Neil Street. People lined up for pictures and autographs with the Illini great.
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When Brandin Podziemski opted to transfer from Illinois to Santa Clara last summer, there was anything but a buzz in the college men’s basketball community. And that’s understandable. Podziemski had played one season for the Illini, one uneventful season. He averaged a meager 1.4 points a game. Fast forward to today and there is plenty of buzz surrounding Podziemski. He is, in some NBA officials eyes, one of the most intriguing players in this year’s NBA draft “He’s pretty much come out of nowhere,’’ an NBA scout said of Podziemski, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard. “I have him going early in the second round of the draft; Last year, I didn’t even have him on my draft list. “He’s a good player. He’s a very good shooter, one of the better ones in the draft. He has good court vision. He’s not real athletic but I think he’s crafty enough to overcome that. “Like I said, I have him near the top of the second round, but I know some guys (NBA officials) who rank him higher.’’
Illinois star big man Kofi Cockburn, a two-time consensus All-American with the Fighting Illini, announced Wednesday he will forgo his remaining college eligibility and is entering the 2022 NBA Draft. Cockburn, a dominant 7-footer, was one of only four players in college hoops last season to average a double-double in points and rebounds, with 20.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.
Armando Sanchez: Chicago Bulls guard and former Illini basketball player Ayo Dosunmu attends a retiring ceremony for his jersey during half time between Illinois and the Maryland Terrapins at the State Farm Center Thursday in Champaign. His parents and Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan attended.
Josh Frydman: Former #Illini basketball forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili worked out for the #Bulls last night and today, per source. He has also worked out for the Bucks, Lakers, Grizzlies and Hawks leading up to the draft. @WGNNews
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Fighting Illini senior Trent Frazier is now the third player on the team to declare for the 2021 NBA Draft. Frazier joins Ayo Dosunmu and Giorgi Bezhanishvili as 2021 draft entrants. He is the second to confirm he plans to hire an agent, joining Dosunmu in that regard.
Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu announced Friday he is withdrawing his name from the NBA draft and returning to the Fighting Illini for his junior season. "Since a kid, I've been working, my dream is to play in the NBA. But first, I need that national championship," Dosunmu said in a video posted to Twitter. "Year 3."