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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WCIA) – The Illinois men’s basketball team proudly boasts six European players on its Final Four lineup.
- David Mirkovic, freshman forward, Montenegro
- Mihailo Petrovic, sophomore guard, Serbia
- Toni Bilic, freshman forward, Croatia
- Tomislav Ivisic, junior center, Croatia
- Zvonimir Ivisic, junior center, Croatia
- Andrej Stojakovic, junior guard, Greece
In Champaign, Illinois, there’s a strong Balkan influence among the Illini, with the potential for one more addition. However, this new addition isn’t due to recruiting efforts.
“Before I joined, [Tomislav Ivisic] mentioned that Jake [Davis] had a bit of a Balkan vibe,” Mirkovic shared. “Though he’s American, there’s something distinctly Balkan about him.”
Junior guard Jake Davis, originally from McCordsville, Indiana, is gradually embracing Balkan culture. Despite his Midwest roots, Davis has become an honorary member of the Balkan crew. Growing up just 20 miles from Indianapolis, the site of the 2026 Final Four where Illinois faces UConn this Saturday, couldn’t be more different than the 4,800-mile distance his Balkan teammates like Mirkovic, Stojakovic, Petrovic, Bilic, and the Ivisic twins have traveled from home.
“He’s about 40% Balkan now,” remarked Tomislav ‘Tomi’ Ivisic, Davis’s roommate.
Why does Davis fit so well with his international teammates? How did he earn the ‘honorary Balkan’ title? He wasn’t chosen at random.
“You probably got to be a little bit crazy,” Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said of Davis being welcomed into the Euro’s circle. “Which, Jake probably is.”
Mirkovic, perhaps the craziest of the bunch, approves.
“He loves to joke. He loves to have fun,” Mirkovic said. “He’s a little crazy, little goofy… So he just fits us perfectly.”
While his fun loving personality may have contribution to the bonds built with these Illini far from home, it wasn’t just that.
“He has gone out of his way to make those guys feel at home,” Underwood said, citing Davis even bringing a few of the Balkan players back to his home state of Indiana during time away from practice. “He probably, as much as anybody, helped in ways that maybe they needed help. In terms of the American ways, and basketball, and [my coaching] and our program.”
It started with Tomislav Ivisic, who joined the Illini for the 2024-25 season. When Davis was helpful to the 7-foot-1 center, Tomi volunteered his services to others.
“I think it’s me taking care of them,” Davis said. “Three, four more [Balkans] came — and Tomi is like, ‘Oh, you got any questions? Ask him.’ So, I guess I’m just the person they ask for help.”
The European players, whose names are much harder to pronounce for most Illini fans, intend to repay Davis in the form of a trip — a trip to their homes.
“He wanted to come to Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro,” Petrovic said. “It will be good.”
“I’m planning on it,” Davis said. “It’ll be a super awesome trip this summer.”
Tomislav, perhaps Davis’ closest friend on the team, plans to show his good buddy and roommate his hometown, introduce him to friends and try out his mom’s best homemade food. Plus:
“We’re looking for his wife — [a] Croatian one,” Ivisic said.
Jokes aside, Davis is enjoying his time with the teammates who come from a much different background.
“It’s super cool to share the American lifestyle, my lifestyle as a whole — and they get to share their lifestyle — what it’s like being overseas and sharing that stuff with me,” he said.
Underwood is likely not complaining. Team chemistry, for folks of all different shapes, sizes and backgrounds, is a large part of why Illinois is still dancing.
“He’s very much so engrained with those guys,” the Illini head coach said of Davis and the Balkans.