Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce the next Serbian star, Mihailo Petrovic. The 6’3″ Serbian guard has committed to Illinois, furthering the Balkan basketball talent pipeline.
Will Mihailo Petrovic Become Serbia’s Next Great Basketball Star?
Mihailo Petrovic is already an international star. The silky guard averaged 14.3 points, 7.3 assists, and 2.3 rebounds for his Adriatic League team, Mega Superbet.
Petrovic is just the latest Balkan player to join the Illini. He joins Croatian twins Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic. Additionally, incoming Montenegro forward David Mirkovic looks to make his mark on the team this upcoming season.
Petrovic brings a ton of experience to a team that finished 22-13 and ultimately lost to Kentucky in the second round of this year’s NCAA March Madness Tournament.
While head coach Brad Underwood continues to invest in international talent, Petrovic may be the best addition yet.
The current Adriatic League MVP is a talented playmaker who provides stability at the point guard position and brings a ton of experience.
He’s played professionally and internationally. During the FIBA U20 European Championship, he averaged 14.4 points and 5.3 assists over seven games.
Illinois lost its best player and leading scorer, Kasparas Jakucionis, this offseason. The guard averaged 15.0 points, 4.7 assists, and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 44% from the field last season.
Petrovic will look to fill both the scoring void and the offensive presence that Jakucionis brought to the Illini.
Alongside fellow backcourt guard Kylan Boswell, Petrovic will serve as the primary ballhandler, operating the Illini’s offense. Boswell is a combo guard, so Petrovic should have plenty. of opportunities to find and feed his teammates.
With the presence of the twin big men, the Ivisic brothers will look to eat in the post. Operating both low and high, Petrovic’s great passing vision will serve the brothers well. Whether it’s operating off ball screens or opening up the floor for wing players, the Illini offense will look to be more efficient in 2025.
KEEP READING: Illinois Basketball Transfer Portal: Full List of Players Entering and Exiting
With that, the Illini will look to capitalize on Petrovic’s vision and speed in transition. Last season, transition points weren’t a hot commodity, as the Illinois offense became stagnant at times.
The Serbian guard will help Illinois play faster, while scoring at a more efficient rate.
While the Illini can officially celebrate Petrovic’s transfer, they are also currently hosting California transfer wing and son of former NBA All-Star Peja Stojakovic, Andrej Stojakovic.
The Serbian national could be another great addition for the Illini. The 6’7″ guard averaged 17.9 points, 1.8 assists, and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 42.7% from the field last season. This 3-and-D guard can be a very welcome bucket for Illinois and coach Underwood.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
