Illini in Italy
- Illini HQ, Florida Panhandle
We moved the cottage cheese!
Illini Basketball 2026-2027
Hey, if we can stop Fears from going straight up the middle in crunch time 50 times over this year, I’ll be ecstatic and call it an improvement.
FightinIllini30
Future insider
Folks here won’t buy it, but Mirk’s draft profile is actually the least impressive of our five starters. And Z might even be higher, just from an NBA standpoint.
He just doesn’t have the quickness or mobility.
He just doesn’t have the quickness or mobility.
Not trying to compare him with an hall of fame player,Jokic never blew any one out with his quickness or mobility either…. But with his basketball skills.
Sure. But the question was about likeliest to get drafted in 2027, of players on the current roster.
In that case, Tomi, Z, Vaaks, Stoj, QC are all ahead of Mirk (due to the reason I mentioned - in addition to the boatload of NIL he can command).
We need to get the 9th man thing figured out cuz I am starting to really worry about the 10th man. 
Jokic is big enough to play the 5 which helps. If Mirk were 7ft I think he’d make the league no problem. Still might, like you said he’s incredibly skilled but there are significant athleticism issues there
We need to get the 9th man thing figured out cuz I am starting to really worry about the 10th man.
But what do we do about not having a #15thman at all?
Who will wash the jock straps and carry Andrej's luggage onto the plane?
It's tough to find guys like David.
Sandro Mamukelashvili is probably the best comp for him physically and regarding playing style. Big, thick, dude who can dribble, pass, and shoot... scouting report coming out of Seaton Hall regarded him as also perhaps a bit limited defensively. (his college page has him at 6'11" but NBA page has him at 6'9")
He was a late second rounder.
David had a better freshman year than Sandro had his senior year...
There just aren't many guys who are 6'9", at least 230 lbs. (David is listed at 250, but I imagine they will work on slimming him down a little), and can hit 3's above 35%. Let alone dribble and pass effectively.
Personally, I would rather have players like ZavierZens, Landon Davis & Ethan Brown in the 9th man position. Not more players from mid-majors
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
So wait…. We already have THREE #9thmen???
That's who I've though of when watchinh him - a poor man's Jokovic.
I agree Zavier Zens will be ideal in 9th man of rotation
Excited for those dudes. I am team trust the staff here since our best #9thman in the last decade was from a mid-major and started on last year's final 4 team.
Jokic is also 6'11 vs Mirk at 6'8, those 3 inches mean a lot more in the NBA than they do in college.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Leaving out JJ? Brad stated in his interview, that he was getting ready to use him more, when the blood clot sidelined him. In a few minutes, he seemed playable.
I agree. But I don't know his prognosis for getting back to where he was.
Hessel Blvd
stop listening to sleepers
- the desert
super playable against quad 3/4 teams. Borderline dominant. 80% from the field.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
I recall him being quite serviceable during the brief times he was in there. Not a go to guy by any means, but able to hold his own as the other bigs rested a bit.
Larry Bird was not a great athlete but he was a pretty good player at about Mirk's height.
Well, I don’t think he’s going to be our #9thMan.