CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — Illinois men’s basketball has added international forward Toni Bilic to its roster as a midseason addition for the 2025–26 season, head coach Brad Underwood announced Tuesday.
Bilic, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward/wing from Trogir, Croatia, has signed a Big Ten Athletics Aid Agreement and will immediately begin practicing with the Fighting Illini. He will focus on strength training and player development for the remainder of the season and will not participate in games.
Underwood described Bilic as a versatile, high-IQ player with strong upside and a relentless motor.
“Toni is a multi-positional, skilled player who we are excited to have join us in practice,” Underwood said. “He comes from a basketball family and has a great feel for the game. He’s a downhill, slasher-type player who is ready to get to work.”
Bilic joins Illinois after spending three seasons with KK Cedevita Junior Zagreb in Croatia’s Favbet Premier League. Last season, he appeared in eight games, averaging 3.0 points and 1.5 rebounds while shooting 58 percent from the field in limited minutes. He closed the season with strong performances in May, averaging 10.5 points and four rebounds over his final two games.
During the 2023–24 season, Bilic played in 23 games, averaging 5.7 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 14 minutes per contest. He also split time during the 2022–23 season between the club’s senior and junior teams, posting 18.1 points per game with KK Cedevita Olimpija Junior while shooting nearly 46 percent from three-point range.
Bilic has also represented Croatia in international competition. At the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship, he averaged 18.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. He later competed at the 2024 U20 European Championship, highlighted by a double-double performance in Croatia’s opening-round win over Switzerland.
