After a breakout year at Cal, Andrej Stojakovic transferred to Illinois, aiming to help the Illini chase a national title with a revamped roster.
Peja Stojakovic was once a standout in the NBA — an elite shooter, former champion, and MVP candidate during his prime with the Sacramento Kings. Today, he’s guiding his son, Andrej, as he charts his own course to the professional ranks.
Andrej Stojakovic entered college basketball with five-star status, but his freshman year at Stanford fell short of expectations. Looking for a fresh start, he transferred to Cal for his sophomore season, where he shined and reignited his NBA aspirations.
Once he hit the transfer portal again, Stojakovic drew widespread interest as one of the top names available. After an impressive 29-game run with the Golden Bears, he had options to return to Stanford, head to powerhouse North Carolina, or join Illinois. Ultimately, he chose Brad Underwood’s Fighting Illini.
“They really believe I’m the missing piece to what they think is a national championship team,” Stojakovic said of his decision.
BREAKING: Cal transfer Andrej Stojakovic has committed to Illinois, he told me and @DraftExpress. Chose the Illini over North Carolina and Stanford. Averaged 17.9 points last season.
“They really believe I’m the missing piece to what they think is a national championship team.” pic.twitter.com/Mvj6ddLCiK
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 28, 2025
What Stojakovic’s arrival means for the Big Ten
He made significant strides in his game this past season. Over 29 appearances, he averaged 17.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per contest. While his three-point shooting still sits at 31.8%, there’s optimism that he can continue to develop in that area and eventually follow in his father’s footsteps as a sharpshooter. Even without a consistent perimeter shot, the younger Stojakovic continues to show strong potential.
The improvement is even more impressive when compared to the season before, where he averaged just 7.8 points per game and shot 40.9% from the field. He’s also made noticeable progress defensively, now recording over 1.2 blocks and nearly a steal per game — a major upgrade from his struggles protecting the rim during his time at Stanford.
Brad Underwood laid out his vision to Stojakovic, presenting him as a key component in Illinois’ push for a national title. With Stojakovic and other high-profile additions, the Fighting Illini are now considered front-runners in the Big Ten, ahead of contenders like Purdue, Michigan State, and USC. Their recent success in the transfer portal has reinforced that belief.
Underwood is known for his fiery coaching style — something that not all players embrace in today’s game. While intense coaching is more normalized in Europe, it’s less common for players in the U.S. to welcome that level of toughness.
Another challenge Illinois faced in the portal was NIL competition. Though their program is far from underfunded, it’s difficult to match schools like Kentucky, which reportedly invest upwards of $20 million into their rosters. Still, Underwood managed to land a key player and fill a major need — effectively solving two problems at once.
Underwood’s European talent is reshaping Illini basketball
Illinois recently made a strong push in recruiting European talent, securing a notable group of international prospects. While the team is expected to lose a few key players to the NBA Draft, they’ve managed to retain Tomislav Ivisic — who made waves in the NCAA with an impressive 17 points per game.
In a major win, the Illini also landed Tomislav’s twin brother, Zvonimir, flipping him from John Calipari’s Arkansas program. At one time, Zvonimir was considered the more promising of the two, but he struggled to adapt to Coach Cal’s offensive system and playing rotations. Meanwhile, Tomislav thrived in Illinois’ system — and now, the twins will reunite in Champaign.
Brad Underwood, known for his intense and sometimes polarizing coaching style, isn’t backing down from his approach. In fact, he targeted players who are comfortable with that kind of environment. One such addition is Mihailo Petrovic from Mega Basket.
The 22-year-old point guard just had a standout season in the ABA League, where he emerged as an MVP contender. His commitment to Illinois sparked some debate, as he has played professionally for years and was eligible to declare for the NBA Draft instead of pursuing college ball.
Another ABA League product, David Mirkovic, joins the roster as a 19-year-old power forward. While his season with SC Derby was solid but not spectacular, he’s expected to be a key contributor in Illinois’ frontcourt rotation alongside the Ivisic twins and Andrej Stojakovic.
With Stojakovic’s commitment adding even more firepower, Illinois fans have plenty to be excited about. Though the new NCAA season is still months away, buzz is already building around Underwood’s revamped roster — and there’s growing belief that this team could make a serious postseason run, maybe even all the way to a national championship.
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