Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis Return to Illinois
- Illinois officially announced on April 15, 2026, that center Tomislav Ivisic, center Zvonimir Ivisic, and forward Jake Davis will return to the program for the 2026-27 season.
- The return of the three players coincides with a separate announcement by sophomore forward David Mirkovic, who also confirmed his return to the Illinois program.
- Tomislav Ivisic will return for his senior season, which will be his third year with the Illini.
Illinois officially announced on April 15, 2026, that center Tomislav Ivisic, center Zvonimir Ivisic, and forward Jake Davis will return to the program for the 2026-27 season. The announcement follows a series of reports, including initial coverage from Draft Express’ Jonathan Givony, indicating that a significant portion of the team’s Final Four core is returning to Champaign.
The return of the three players coincides with a separate announcement by sophomore forward David Mirkovic, who also confirmed his return to the Illinois program. Together, these four players represent a substantial retention of the production and roster stability from the previous season.
Tomislav Ivisic’s Final Season
Tomislav Ivisic will return for his senior season, which will be his third year with the Illini. Despite having played two seasons in Champaign, he retains one year of eligibility because he was classified as a sophomore upon his arrival from overseas.
Ivisic’s production saw a decline during the 2025-26 season, averaging 10.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks per game. This is a decrease from his 2024-25 statistics, where he averaged 13.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. His usage rate also dropped as the offense shifted more toward David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic, and Keaton Wagler.
A primary factor in the production dip was a decrease in three-point shooting accuracy. Ivisic shot 31.3% from beyond the arc as a junior, down from 35.7% during his first season with the team. Addressing this is a priority for the player, who stated in March, I know I am a good shooter
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According to CBB Analytics, Ivisic has areas for growth regarding his physicality and defensive impact. Last season, only 42.4% of his points were scored in the paint, and his free-throw rate was 19.9%, figures that place him in the 25th and 12th percentiles nationally, respectively.
Frontcourt Depth and Supporting Returns
The return of Zvonimir Ivisic, Tomislav’s twin brother, provides the Illini with continued rim protection and size. Zvonimir averaged 6.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while coming off the bench during the previous season.
Forward Jake Davis also returns for his third season. Davis established a consistent role in the rotation, starting 21 regular-season games and six postseason games. He proved to be an effective perimeter threat, shooting 40.6% from three-point range during the 2025-26 campaign, with particular strength in corner shots.
The combined presence of the Ivisic brothers and Davis is expected to maintain one of the most skilled frontcourts in college basketball. The coaching staff intends to utilize Tomislav Ivisic’s ability to pass, rebound, and stretch the floor to create spacing and driving lanes for teammates.
The announcements were coordinated through agent Misko Raznatovic, who communicated the decisions to Draft Express.