The twin brothers from Serbia are looking to give it their all as they play in their final season of college basketball.
Milos and Veljko Ilic are senior athletes who attend Loyola University Maryland. The brothers were born and raised in a town called Gornji Milanovac, which is in central Serbia. Eventually the twins moved to upstate New York and went to Hoosac School for their junior and senior years of high school. They found their way to Loyola from former coach Ivo Simovic. Simovic was an assistant coach for Loyola from 2018 to 2022. He is now an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors. Simovic and the twins’ father played together in Serbia, and he is from their hometown. These were big reasons why the two decided to play at Loyola. Veljko Ilic commented on the impact Simovic had on his career.
“I chose Loyola because four years ago, an assistant coach from Serbia, whom I had known for many years, was here recruiting…He believed in my potential and saw something in me, so he was a big reason I felt Loyola would be the right place for me,” Veljko said.
Milos credited the steps he’s taken in his career to his father.
“My father was a professional player, which inspired me to follow in his footsteps,” Milos said.
Milos has played basketball since he was 7 years old. Standing at 6 feet 10 inches, Ilic was incredibly excited for the 2024-2025 season to get started. He had great expectations for how the season was meant to go.
“We have our own high standards. We are looking to exceed what anyone might expect of us,” Milos said.
Also at 6 feet 10 inches, Veljko was just as ready as Milos to be back in the action. Veljko was also inspired by his father’s career and began playing basketball at the age of seven.
The brothers were more than happy to be back on the court together for the first time since their freshman year. Veljko is back on the active roster after not being able to play due to a torn ACL. He says that his main goal is always to play as hard as he can every single game. Veljko wants to be a strong contributor, help his team win, and support his teammates through thick and thin. He was excited to get back on the court and make every moment count.
Milos’ personal goal for the 2024-25 was to make a big leap from last season. Then, he averaged 7.8 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, and 1.4 assists per game last year. He entered the season ready to play every game with high energy, take it one game at a time, and to enjoy every moment of his final season.
Both of the brothers want nothing short of being at their best personally and for their team to finish at the top for their last season at Loyola. When asked about his goals for the season, Veljko’s answer was clear.
“To win the Patriot League Championship. We’ve put in a lot of hard work, and I believe we have the talent and determination to go all the way,” Veljko said.