Illinois coach Brad Underwood marvels over Andrej Stojaković's recovery from injury

1 hour ago 1

Summer availability often centers on the health of the roster and the adjustment period for newcomers. In a grueling conference like the Big Ten, the off-season is the most critical time for preventative health and system integration.

For Illinois coach Brad Underwood and the Fighting Illini, the reports are positive regarding the team's ongoing development, with a focus on getting key pieces back to full strength.

On the injury front, the return of guard Andrej Stojaković has been a major highlight for the staff during the summer months. Following a rigorous rehabilitation process from a right knee scope, seeing him back on the court is as much a mental win for the team as it is a physical one.

"Every day he’s out there is a good day," Underwood said of Stojaković. "It helps our basketball team become better. It helped him become better, but the biggest thing is you want him feeling right and healthy. He’s been here the entire time since the (NBA) Combine, the surgery and the rehab."

Elsewhere, newcomers like Stefan Vaaks and Quentin Coleman are finding their footing within the system. For a team that prides itself on tactical discipline, the early returns on these players are promising. Underwood specifically highlighted Vaaks’ technical ability, noting that his shooting stroke is already performing at the standard expected in the Big Ten.

MORE: Why the Mavericks hired Dusty May as head coach

"We’ll get dialed in a little more as to strengths and weaknesses within the framework of what we’re doing, but his shooting is no-nonsense," Underwood said about Vaaks. "It’s really good."

Underwood noted that the transition for these newer players has been productive, owing to their commitment to the sport throughout the offseason. In an era where summer schedules can be lax, Underwood emphasizes that his roster is prioritizing court time, which accelerates the learning curve significantly.

"They’re playing basketball," Underwood said. "It’s not like they’re, you know, sitting on a beach doing nothing… The transition becomes pretty easy."

MORE: Big Ten hoops dominates NIL spending spree amid 76-team NCAA Tournament expansion

With the roster getting healthy and the newcomers showing signs of immediate contributions, the focus for the remainder of the summer will be cohesion. If Stojaković remains on this trajectory and shooters like Vaaks continue to find their rhythm, the depth of this Illinois backcourt could be a defining strength once the season tips off in the fall.