NCAA’s Andy Katz Picks Illinois’ Andrej Stojakovic as a Breakout Candidate
Illinois may have a rising star in Andrej Stojakovic, the former Cal transfer who has already shown flashes of brilliance. Despite being a high school McDonald’s All-American and averaging 17.9 points per game at the high-major level, Stojakovic has yet to achieve widespread recognition — largely because his college career so far has been with teams that struggled to win consistently in the Pac-12.
However, with a more competitive team around him at Illinois, Stojakovic has the chance to make a name for himself on a national stage. The Illini are ranked No. 17 in the AP poll to start the season, and many believe they have the talent to climb even higher. Stojakovic’s ability to shine while playing alongside elite teammates could be a major factor in how far Illinois can go this year.
Andy Katz Sees Stojakovic as a Major Breakout Candidate
NCAA analyst Andy Katz is one of those who believes Stojakovic is primed for a breakout season. Katz included Stojakovic in his list of 10 breakout players for the 2025-2026 season, ranking him at No. 4 overall. Interestingly, Stojakovic was the only player from the Big Ten to make Katz’s list.
While Stojakovic has already proven himself as a scorer, the real challenge will be how he fits in with a team full of talent. In his first two seasons, Stojakovic played on teams that finished under .500 — Stanford went 14-18 during his freshman year, and Cal finished 14-19 the following season.
Now at Illinois, Stojakovic’s ability to adjust to playing with a more skilled roster is under scrutiny. Last year, we saw how challenging it was for freshman guard Kasparas Jakucionis to adapt to playing with more capable teammates after being the focal point of his previous teams.
Though Stojakovic has more college experience than Jakucionis, the question remains: will he be able to blend seamlessly into Illinois’ deeper, more talented squad?
If Stojakovic can make that transition, he’s poised for a breakout year — and Illinois could very well be in the mix for a Final Four run.
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