Brad Underwood has done a great job this offseason in retaining players from the Final Four run just weeks ago.
The Illini will be bringing back David Mirkovic, Jake Davis, Andrej Stojakovic, Tomislav Ivisic, and Zvonimir Ivisic as they look to make another run at the Final Four in 2027.
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It has been an embarrassment of riches for the Orange and Blue as they strive to maintain the cohesiveness of the program. With the five returning players to the roster, Illinois has taken a hit in the transfer portal. On Sunday, Joe Tipton of On3.com reported that Brandon Lee will be hitting the transfer portal.
Lee, a four-star recruit from Hillside, New Jersey, was the No. 15 shooting guard in the nation and the No. 1 player in New Jersey. Through 17 games with the Illini, Lee averaged 1.8 points, 0.4 rebounds, and 0.2 assists in 4.1 minutes per game.
Lee is now the fourth player from Illinois’ Final Four team last season to enter the transfer portal, joining Ty Rodgers, Toni Bilic, and Mihailo Petrovic.
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Brandon Lee’s departure from Champaign was not only necessary but expected for the Illinois basketball program
Underwood and the Illini are poised to make another deep run in the postseason for 2026-27, and they are going to do it with a majority of last year’s team intact. They will also have top recruits like Quentin Coleman joining the team, as well as one of the best transfers in Stefan Vaaks coming over from Providence.
This team is bound to have one of the best rosters in the country next season, and it would be a battle for Lee to see the floor. He would need to fight tooth and nail to see playing time, and even then, it might not be enough for the promising young guard.
If anything, this was necessary for Lee’s future. He doesn’t fit the mold at Illinois right now, as most of the roster stands at 6-foot-5 or taller. He just needs to find a program that’s right for him, that can properly utilize his speed and athleticism.
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This article was originally published on www.writingillini.com as Great retention for Illinois basketball causes transfer portal departure.
