The Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team's second-leading scorer among returnees is power forward David Mirkovic, who brings NBA height and strength to the power forward position along with deadeye shooting that makes Illinois a tough team to defend. 

Mirkovic made headlines in early August as he suffered a fractured left foot injury that required surgery, which derailed the offseason training plans of who coach Underwood called him "one of the best players in college basketball." 

On Wednesday, Underwood shared an update on Mirkovic's recovery from the injury, and it read as good news for a team with national title hopes. 

Underwood: Mirkovic Out of Walking Boot 

Underwood gave a round of key updates at the Champaign-Urbana Kiwanis Club on Wednesday, where Illinois players spoke as part of the Annual Illinois Basketball Tip-Off Classic event, as shared in quotes from WCIA-3 journalist Glenn Kinley. 

"Mirk was, is out of the boot," Underwood said. "(Illinois athletic trainer) Justin Games has done an unbelievable job with him and his recovery, and of course, Mirk is gonna be Mirk, he's gonna do everything possible to make himself right as quickly as he can."

Underwood noted that the Fighting Illini will take things slowly with Mirkovic to ensure the recovery goes as planned. 

"So, you know, we'll progress slowly with that, but it's nice to see him out of the boot and start strengthening, all of that." 

Mirkovic Timeline Questioned 

Underwood was asked about a potential timeline for Mirkovic's return to the court.

"No timeline with Mirk," he said. "Safer, than sorry, is kinda the way we're lookin' at this, we want to make sure he's completely healthy, that we're not hurting him for the long run," Underwood added. 

If Mirkovic can't practice for the foreseeable future, the Fighting Illini will miss one of its most durable and productive players from last season. 

Mirkovic started all but one game during the Fighting Illini's incredible 2025-26 run to the Final Four, which ended with a loss to eventual national runner-up Connecticut. Fellow freshman Keaton Wagler was the only player to start all 37 games for Underwood's team. 

Illinois has plenty of players who can hold down the fort without Mirkovic this season, but a return would go a long way toward cementing the Fighting Illini as national championship favorites. Expect the Illini forward to do everything in his power to get back in time to make an impact on this year's team as the calendar inches closer to the start of the season.