Illinois
Social Media Buzzes as Illinois Basketball Lands Another International Recruit
For years, it was a verifiable fact that the Balkans was a region located in Southeastern Europe. Recently, though, there has been some confusion, as the area has seen a notable migration of its populace to a certain central Illinois city.
Champaign could now aptly be dubbed “The Little Balkans,” but even that would be counterintuitive given that it likely holds the world record for the town with the tallest average height among its Balkan population.
On Tuesday, 6-foot-3 Serbian point guard Mihailo Petrovic announced his commitment to the Illini and his intention to join seven-foot twin brothers Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic (Croatia) and 6-foot-8 David Mirkovic (Montenegro) in what may be the NCAA’s first-ever Balkans alliance.
NEWS: Mega Superbet PG Mihailo Petrovic has committed to Illinois, agent Misko Raznatovic told ESPN. The 22-year-old Serbian is an MVP candidate in the Adriatic League, ranking second in assists (7.3 per game) and top-10 in scoring (14.3 ppg). Big pickup for Brad Underwood. pic.twitter.com/2363F0nuHk
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 22, 2025
Petrovic is a current pro who has been a difference-maker in Europe’s Adriatic League, averaging 14.3 points and 7.3 assists to insert himself in the MVP discussion.
With his experience (Petrovic is 22) and skill set, he appears well-positioned to step into the point guard role left behind by fellow international-born guard Kasparas Jakucionis, who is off to the NBA.
Naturally, with Illinois landing a premier talent (and yet another overseas prospect), social media has caught ablaze. Here are a few of the best reactions:
Me trying to learn where all of the 2025-26 Illinois Fighting Illini players are from: pic.twitter.com/EzCmqxisDa
— Illini Nation (@IlliniNation_) April 22, 2025 From an NBA scout pic.twitter.com/AXYdTHflPY
— ᗩᑎT ᗯᖇIGᕼT (@itsAntWright) April 22, 2025 No need for Adam Miller
Illinois goes STEALTH and snags a stud PG
Mihailo Petrovic
No need for NIL portal drama
— Dariush Takhtehchian, M.D (@takhtehchianmd) April 22, 2025 Not even saying this because he is an Illini, but a 22 year old pro in a good league shouldn’t have college eligibility.
Where does the NCAA draw the line???
Can we get 30 year olds at this rate? https://t.co/b6zFppAem3
— Wildcat Nation (@NUcatsnation) April 22, 2025 Illinois is assembling a Balkan dream team this off-season, with the Serbian Petrovic, Croatian twins Zvonimir and Tomislav Ivisic, and Montenegrin David Mirkovic. Will be fun to see how it comes together. https://t.co/Hh4gxhri0x
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 22, 2025 No one in CBB has invested more in recruiting Europe than Illinois.
Brad Underwood told me last summer they recruit top European events just like they would recruit Peach Jam. Mihailo Petrovic, one of the Adriatic League’s best players, is another example of that paying off.
— Kevin Sweeney (@CBB_Central) April 22, 2025 Brad Underwood – international gangster @JonRothstein #illini pic.twitter.com/0xX1bgTTQb
— Andrew Fulk (@fulknA) April 22, 2025
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Missing man’s body found in retention pond in Elk Grove Village, police say
ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. (WLS) — The body of a missing man was found in a retention pond Thursday in the northwest suburbs, police said.
Chopper 7 was over the scene at a retention pond at Higgins and Innovation Drive in Elk Grove Village, in front of a number of warehouses in the area.
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There was a large police presence there for multiple hours, surrounding the water.
Chopper 7 witnessed dive teams go in and out of the water, and there were paramedics on scene.
Elk Grove Police confirmed a male body was found in the water in the 700 block of Innovation Drive. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene.
Police identified the body as a missing 26-year-old man named Alexis Ramirez.
Ramirez had been missing since March 10. Elk Grove Police were searching the same area after Ramirez went missing after he was the sole occupant of a single-vehicle crash near Higgins and Brennan Boulevard, which is right by the pond he was found in on Thursday.
Police believe he walked away from that scene before officers arrived. At that time, the police search led to no one being found.
ABC7 spoke to the family of Ramirez on the scene Thursday, and they appeared very emotional.
Police say there is no evidence of foul play at this time as they send out their condolences to the family.
No further information was immediately available.
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Illinois
Giant Illinois interstate sign collapses after truck strike, ‘major delays’ expected
A busy stretch of I-64 in Illinois near St. Louis remains closed after a truck hit an overhead sign Wednesday night, with shocking photos showing beams of metal collapsed on the roadway.
The Illinois Department of Transportation posted about the closure, in St. Clair County, just before 8 a.m. Thursday.
“Heads up, Metro East travelers! Westbound I-64 approaching I-255 is currently closed due to a truck that hit a sign trust overnight,” IDOT said in a Facebook post. “Our crews are on it, working hard to get things cleared up and the road reopened ASAP. Expect major delays this morning, so if you can, try to steer clear of the area.”
According to the Illinois State Police, about 10:50 p.m., truck tractor semi trailer was in the construction zone on I-64 near Washington Park when it failed to lower its dump bed and struck the overhead road sign.
The structure holding the sign then failed and fell onto the roadway, ISP said. No injuries were reported.
Photos shared by IDOT showed the damage, with two giant green road signs over the interstate nearly touching the road, with the metal structure crushed and folded.
As of Thursday morning, all four westbound lanes remained closed due to the damage. Cleanup was expected to last for hours, with traffic diverted to IL 157, ISP said.
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