Andrej Stojakovic Is Coming Back for Senior Year and Illinois Just Became a Preseason Title Threat
Illinois basketball just got a massive jolt. Andrej Stojakovic is returning for his senior season, his agent Drake U'u confirmed to ESPN on Friday. And this decision could reshape the entire college hoops landscape heading into 2026-27.
The Fighting Illini are already loaded after reaching the Final Four earlier this month. Now they're keeping one of their most reliable weapons in the lineup. Stojakovic, the team's second-leading scorer and son of former NBA star Peja Stojakovic, averaged 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game this past season. That consistency matters when you're trying to make a title run.
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Here's what makes this retention huge for coach Brad Underwood: Stojakovic can play multiple roles. The 6-foot-7 wing, who started his college career at Stanford and Cal, appeared in the All-Region team during Illinois' Final Four push. He scored 21 points against VCU, 13 against Houston, and 17 against Iowa on the way there.
Early in the season, Stojakovic started 21 games before an ankle injury sidelined him for two contests. When he returned, Underwood moved him to a sixth-man role off the bench, and that's when he really took off during the postseason surge. That flexibility is gold in March.
Building Around a Core That Actually Stayed
This is rare in modern college basketball. The Illini are bringing back five of their top seven scorers from a group that just made the Final Four. Stojakovic joins fellow returnees David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Jake Davis, and Zvonimir Ivisic.
Sure, star guard and projected top-10 pick Keaton Wagler left for the NBA draft, and starter Kylan Boswell is out of eligibility. But every other key player stayed put. On top of that, Illinois added top-10 transfer Stefan Vaaks from Providence, a talented offensive player, plus top-60 recruits Quentin Coleman and Lucas Morillo.
The Illini are locked in for preseason consideration at the very top. They've got the returning core, the new additions, and Stojakovic's decision to stick around proves this roster is built to compete for a national championship.
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