David Mirković does not need to prove that he belongs at Illinois. He already did that during his freshman season.

The Montenegro native arrived in Champaign with plenty of intrigue, but by the end of the 2025-26 season, Mirković had established himself as one of the most important players on Illinois' roster. He started 36 of 37 games, averaged 13.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, and helped the Illini make a run all the way to the Final Four.

Now comes the interesting part.

Mirković enters his sophomore season with a year of Big Ten basketball, postseason experience and a much better understanding of what Illinois needs from him. The question is no longer whether he can contribute. It is how much more he can give the Illini in year two.

And there is already plenty of evidence suggesting the answer could be: quite a lot.

Mirković Already Had the Numbers of a Breakout Player

Mirković's freshman season was impressive enough on its own.

He averaged 13.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range. He also collected 297 rebounds, setting an Illinois freshman record.

The bigger the stage became, the more comfortable Mirković appeared.

He scored 22 points against Ohio State, 25 against Indiana and posted 22 points and 11 rebounds against Maryland. Then came the NCAA Tournament, where he opened with 29 points and 17 rebounds against Penn.

That performance set Illinois freshman NCAA Tournament records for both points and rebounds.

He followed it with 14 points and 10 rebounds against Houston in the Sweet 16 and 12 rebounds against Iowa in the Elite Eight.

For a freshman playing a major role on a Final Four team, it was an impressive introduction.

But now the expectations have changed.

The National Numbers Are Starting to Catch Up to the Potential

The strongest indication yet that Mirković could be headed for a major sophomore season came from EvanMiya's preseason player rankings.

Mirković was ranked No. 10 nationally entering the 2026-27 season and was the second-highest-ranked Big Ten player behind Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr.

That is a significant projection.

Mirković is not being ranked No. 10 because of what he might eventually become several years from now. The ranking is based on what he could be this season, after already producing at a high level as a freshman.

Even more interestingly, Sports Illustrated recently ranked Mirković as the No. 1 power forward in the country entering the season. The analysis highlighted his ability to function as a jumbo ball-handler, create for teammates, attack mismatches and operate from the post. It also noted that there is buzz around a major jump for Mirković this offseason, with Illinois expected to use him as a primary offensive engine at times.

That is a very different expectation from the one Mirković entered last season with.

He is no longer simply an intriguing young player.

The national analytical community is beginning to view him as one of the best players in college basketball.

A Bigger Offensive Role Could Unlock Another Level

The next step for Mirković could come from how often Illinois puts the ball in his hands.

At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, Mirković already has the physical profile to create problems around the basket. What makes him particularly difficult to defend, however, is that he is not limited to playing with his back to the basket.

He shot 37.5% from three as a freshman and finished second on the team with 95 assists.

That combination gives Illinois plenty of options.

A smaller defender can be punished in the post. A bigger defender can be attacked away from the basket. Help defense can create passing opportunities. And if the defense chooses to stay home, Mirković has already shown that he can score efficiently himself.

The more frequently Illinois allows him to make those decisions, the more valuable he becomes.

That could be the biggest difference between freshman Mirković and sophomore Mirković.

His Passing May Be the Most Underrated Part of His Game

Mirković's scoring and rebounding naturally attract the most attention, but his passing could ultimately be the skill that makes him an offensive centerpiece.

He recorded six assists against Michigan State, five against Iowa and Wisconsin, and four against both Michigan and VCU last season.

Those numbers show that Mirković is capable of creating offense without necessarily taking the shot himself.

That becomes especially important if Illinois intends to use him as a primary offensive engine.

Mirković can catch the ball in the post, draw a second defender and find an open shooter. He can initiate from the perimeter, use his size to create a mismatch and attack the basket. He can also facilitate from the elbow and allow Illinois to play through him without taking the ball completely out of the hands of its guards.

That versatility is what separates a productive forward from a player who can become the focal point of an offense.

The Biggest Question? What He Looks Like Defensively

There is one part of Mirković's potential breakout that deserves some caution.

His offensive ability is already established. The bigger question is whether he can make a significant jump defensively.

EvanMiya's preseason ranking actually highlighted that as the area where Mirković has the most room to grow. He had the lowest defensive rating among the players ranked in the top 10, according to Sports Illustrated's breakdown. At the same time, reports out of Champaign have pointed to improved athleticism and agility, which could allow Mirković to become a more versatile defender.

There is an obvious caveat.

Mirković is recovering from a foot injury, and that could affect his conditioning and athleticism early in the season. How quickly he gets back to full strength will be something worth monitoring.

If the athletic improvement translates to the court, however, Mirković could become significantly more impactful on both ends.

One Year of Big Ten Basketball Changes Everything

There is also something Mirković has now that he did not have a year ago: experience.

He has already played against the physicality of the Big Ten. He has already experienced the grind of a conference schedule. He has already played in front of massive crowds and faced the pressure that comes with playing for a program with Final Four expectations.

Most importantly, he has already played meaningful basketball in March.

That experience should allow the game to slow down for him.

A freshman spends much of the season learning where to be and how quickly decisions need to be made. A sophomore who has already gone through that process can spend more time figuring out how to exploit what the defense is giving him.

For Mirković, that could mean quicker decisions, better positioning and greater consistency.

Illinois' Frontcourt Could Give Mirković the Perfect Environment

Mirković will not be asked to do everything himself.

In fact, Illinois could have one of the deepest and most talented frontcourts in the country.

EvanMiya also ranked Tomislav Ivisic No. 15 nationally and Zvonimir Ivisic No. 19, giving Illinois three players inside the national top 20.

That matters for Mirković.

The presence of the Ivisic twins means Illinois can surround him with size and offensive skill rather than forcing him to carry every possession. It also creates the possibility of some fascinating combinations in the frontcourt.

Mirković's ability to operate away from the basket can open space for the Ivisic twins inside, while their size and shooting can create opportunities for Mirković to attack mismatches.

The result could be an Illinois offense that is extremely difficult to match up with.

The Sophomore Leap Could Be About More Than Scoring

When people talk about a breakout season, the conversation usually starts with points per game.

For Mirković, that should not be the only measure.

If he moves from 13.3 points to 16 or 17 points per game, that would obviously represent meaningful growth. But an even more valuable development would be becoming the player Illinois can consistently run its offense through when it needs a basket.

That means recognizing double teams earlier, making quicker reads, taking advantage of mismatches and becoming more comfortable creating shots for himself and others.

The foundation is already there.

Mirković proved as a freshman that he can score, rebound, shoot and make plays against high-level competition. Now he has the opportunity to put all of those skills together more consistently.

The Breakout Season Could Be Coming

There is a difference between predicting a breakout and simply recognizing the ingredients for one.

Mirković already has the production. He already has the experience. He already has the versatility.

Now he has the national attention, too.

Sports Illustrated has him as the No. 1 power forward in the country. And Illinois appears prepared to give him an even larger role within an offense that expects to compete at the highest level.

That does not guarantee that Mirković will become an All-American or one of the best players in the country.

But it does explain why the expectations surrounding him have changed so dramatically.

The freshman version of David Mirković was already good enough to average 13.3 points and 8.0 rebounds and help Illinois reach the Final Four.

If the sophomore version can add another level of playmaking, consistency and defensive impact, the ceiling is considerably higher.

The breakout may not be a question of whether Mirković has the talent for it.

It may simply be a matter of how much of that talent Illinois gets to see this season.