Illinois' Second-Leading Scorer Stays Put, and the College Basketball World Should Be Paying Attention
Andrej Stojakovic is coming back to Illinois for his senior season, and this decision just made the Fighting Illini one of the most dangerous teams heading into next year. His agent Drake U'u confirmed the news on Friday, and honestly, this is the kind of move that sends shockwaves through college hoops.
The Illini just punched their ticket to the Final Four for the first time in 21 years, and keeping Stojakovic in the fold means they're bringing back five of their top seven scorers from that group. That's not a rebuild. That's a loaded roster getting even better.
🎲 Want to Make Tonight's Game More Interesting?
Kalshi lets you trade on real sports outcomes — not just spreads. It's the only federally regulated prediction market in the US, and it's available right here in Washington state.
New users get a FREE $10 just for signing up — no deposit required to claim it.
👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiThe Stojakovic Factor
Stojakovic is a 6-foot-7 wing who transferred from Stanford and Cal, and he put up 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game during the 2025-26 season. More importantly, he was named to the All-Region team and showed up huge when it mattered most. He dropped 21 points against VCU, 13 against Houston, and 17 against Iowa during Illinois' Final Four run. That's the kind of clutch production you need when everything is on the line.
The road here wasn't smooth. Stojakovic started 21 games before an ankle injury sidelined him for two contests. But when he came back, coach Brad Underwood moved him to the sixth-man role, and that's when he became a scoring spark plug off the bench during the tournament surge. The fact that Underwood made retaining Stojakovic a priority says everything about how much he values his game.
An Illini Squad Built to Make Noise
Illinois is bringing back David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Jake Davis, and Zvonimir Ivisic alongside Stojakovic. Yes, star guard and projected top-10 pick Keaton Wagler left for the NBA draft, and starter Kylan Boswell is out of eligibility, but the core is intact.
To reload, the Illini added top-10 transfer Stefan Vaaks from Providence, a serious offensive talent, plus top-60 recruits Quentin Coleman and Lucas Morillo. This roster isn't just returning. It's evolving. Illinois is squarely in the conversation for a preseason No. 1 ranking heading into 2026-27, and with Stojakovic staying put, they have every reason to believe they can make another run.
🐦 What fans are saying on X
See the latest reactions and highlights from Seattle fans about .
View X conversation →This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.