Illinois' 'International Illini' Propel Team to Final Four

Four of the Fighting Illini's top six scorers hail from Europe, thanks to assistant coach Geoff Alexander's recruiting efforts.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:40pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a college basketball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the players and action on the court. The vibrant colors and fractured composition capture the energy and intensity of the tournament matchup.The 'International Illini' have shattered expectations with their diverse, global roster, setting the stage for an epic Final Four clash.Champaign Today

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood assembled a Final Four team with a roster featuring four European players among its top six scorers, largely thanks to assistant coach Geoff Alexander's ability to recruit international talent. The 'Balkan Bloc' of players from southeastern Europe, combined with a hometown guard who returned after starting his career at Arizona, have powered the Fighting Illini to the national semifinals.

Why it matters

Illinois' success with its international recruiting strategy challenges the traditional model of building a college basketball powerhouse solely with domestic talent. The 'International Illini' approach has allowed the team to add size, shooting, and skill that complement the grit of its homegrown players, creating a well-rounded roster capable of making a deep NCAA Tournament run.

The details

Underwood trusted assistant Geoff Alexander to assemble the 'Balkan Bloc' of international talent, which includes All-American Keaton Wagler, transfer Andrej Stojakovic, and freshmen David Mirkovic and the Ivisic Twins (Zvonimir and Tomislav). These European players, combined with hometown guard Kylan Boswell, who returned to Illinois after starting his career at Arizona, have been instrumental in the team's success.

  • Illinois reached the Final Four on April 2, 2026.
  • The Fighting Illini will face UConn in the national semifinal on April 5, 2026.

The players

Brad Underwood

The head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team, who has embraced an international recruiting strategy to build a Final Four roster.

Geoff Alexander

The Illinois assistant coach who has been instrumental in recruiting the team's international talent, particularly from southeastern Europe.

Keaton Wagler

An All-American player from the 'Balkan Bloc' of international talent on the Illinois roster.

Andrej Stojakovic

A transfer player from the 'Balkan Bloc' who has accepted a bench role and thrived as a key reserve for the Fighting Illini.

Kylan Boswell

A hometown guard who returned to Illinois after starting his college career at Arizona, and has blossomed into a key contributor for the team.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we needed positional size. We knew we were recruiting shooting. They do it as well as anybody in the world in my opinion.”

— Brad Underwood, Illinois Head Coach

“The one thing he's done is he's accepted defending. He's accepted rebounding. We all know his offense can come and that he's a very capable guy there. But now he has just adjusted. I couldn't have asked for anything more coming off the bench. He's done that in a way that has helped us grow and play our best basketball.”

— Brad Underwood, Illinois Head Coach

What’s next

Illinois will face UConn in the Final Four on April 5, 2026, with a chance to advance to the national championship game.

The takeaway

Illinois' success with its international recruiting strategy, led by assistant coach Geoff Alexander, has allowed the team to build a well-rounded roster capable of making a deep NCAA Tournament run. The 'International Illini' approach has challenged the traditional model of building a college basketball powerhouse solely with domestic talent.