David Mirkovic Scouting Report: Illinois Basketball 2025-2026

Scouting David Mirkovic

At first glance, Mirkovic doesn't appear special. At 6-foot-9, he doesn't have extraordinary height, length or explosiveness for a college basketball power forward, and there are moments when he simply blends in with his surroundings.

But watch him over the course of a game, and it's impossible not to notice his wildly diverse package of skills. He is a rugged interior scorer and rebounder, which sounds like faint praise until you realize he was a point guard until only a couple years ago. His passing, vision and timing are what might reasonably be expected from a former 1 – but are off the charts for a 4. His shot selection and shooting touch – which extends out to three-point range – are sophisticated and smooth. Although not an explosive athlete, Mirkovic has great hands, feet and hips, and sensational timing in all areas.

David Mirkovic highlights

What they're saying about Mirkovic

""He's got some Jokic in him, is what I see. He can wheel and deal, he can dribble, pass and shoot. And he's got tremendous size. I don't know how old he is, but for him to be a freshman – he's 19, yeah – I mean, that's a big boy there. So, yeah, you want to keep him around as long as you can," said Illinois State Ryan Pedon, comparing Mirkovic to three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic.

What we expect from Mirkovic

If we are to judge from one exhibition game, Mirkovic has – like another famously lethal international – a very particular set of skills that will indeed make him a nightmare for people across the Big Ten. He absolutely gutted Illinois State (19 points, 14 rebounds and six assists), plucking rebounds off the glass, dribbling coast to coast and dishing to teammates he deftly set up with his vision and cultured sense of space and timing.

Realistically, Mirkovic will likely be more of a brilliant supporting actor than a leading man – at least to start his career. As the Illini get healthier (three projected starters and four rotation players were missing from that exhibition) and the pecking order gets sorted, Mirkovic will have to fit in to get in. He may even start the season coming off the bench. But he should instantly provide more overall value to Illinois than Morez Johnson Jr. did a year ago, and his versatile, unique game could turn him into an offensive focal point much sooner than anyone initially expected.