October 29, 2026 | Men's Basketball
News
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Illinois sophomore forward David Mirkovic has been named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division I Player of the Year Preseason Watch List.
This is the latest preseason accolade for Mirkovic following first-team All-America selection by the Associated Press and CBS Sports and second-team All-America by Field of 68. Mirkovic also was named to the preseason All-Big Ten Team.
Mirkovic ranked third on the Illini in scoring and second in both rebounding and assists last season, averaging 13.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He set the Illinois freshman total rebounds record, collecting 297 boards to break the previous Illini freshman mark of 272 set by Kofi Cockburn in 2019-20.
Mirkovic was named to the NCAA All-Region Team as Illinois won the South Regional Championship to advance to the 2026 Final Four. He also was voted to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and received NABC All-Great Lakes District Second Team and All-Big Ten Honorable Mention recognition.
The 2027 NABC Division I Player of the Year – to be selected by a nationwide vote of Division I head coaches at the conclusion of the regular season – will be announced the week of the 2027 Men's Final Four. Former Duke star Cameron Boozer received the award last season.
The NABC Division I Player of the Year award has been presented every season since 1974-75, and is the only national player of the year honor selected by the sport's head coaches.
2027 NABC Division I Player of the Year – Preseason Watch List
Flory Bidunga, Louisville
John Blackwell, Duke
Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, Duke
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan
Rueben Chinyelu, Florida
Alex Condon, Florida
Thijs De Ridder, Virginia
Silas Demary Jr., Connecticut
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
Juke Harris, Tennessee
Thomas Haugh, Florida
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
David Mirkovic, Illinois
Milan Momcilovic, Kentucky
Braylon Mullins, Connecticut
Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
Tyran Stokes, Kansas
Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Robert Wright III, BYU
