Why Andrej Stojakovic Will Have Major Success At Illinois

Undoubtedly, Brad Underwood’s biggest pickup of the offseason was former McDonald’s All-American Andrej Stojakovic — whose go-to scoring ability, offensive creativity, and proven leadership were crucial additions to an Illinois roster looking to reload after one-and-done talents Will Riley and Kasparas Jakucionis departed for the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft.

Before making the move to Champaign, the All-ACC Honorable Mention recipient was doing it all in Berkeley last season for Cal. As a sophomore, Stojakovic racked up 523 points, 23 steals, 38 blocks, and 79 assists for the Golden Bears — impressive numbers despite the program finishing 15th in the ACC (6–14) and 14–19 overall.

That said, his role in Champaign will look slightly different in 2025. With so many talented weapons in Coach Underwood’s arsenal, the pressure will be lifted off Stojakovic’s shoulders to be “the guy” on every single possession.

Could playing with more freedom and support help take Andrej’s game to the next level? According to college basketball and NBA analyst Ant Wright, the Cal transfer could thrive in Illinois’ system simply by doing what he’s already proven capable of — game in and game out.

Wright joined the Armchair Illini Podcast to discuss Stojakovic’s potential and what fans can expect from him in an Illini uniform.

Andrej Stojakovic. Illinois Basketball. Credit: Andrej Stojakovic on Instagram. (@Andrejstojakovic).

Wright Discusses Andrej Stojakovic’s Potential With Armchair Illini

“I mean, the biggest thing is to go do what you do. Don’t try to do too much,” said Wright. “He (Andrej) is somewhere that has way more weapons than Cal, in a much tougher league. So, he doesn’t have to bear all the responsibility.”

If Stojakovic can play loose and confident, Wright believes he could emerge as one of the leading forces on this talented Illinois team — potentially pushing the Illini closer to their loftier goals.

“But at the same time, he is someone who has All-Big Ten potential. And that’s what you want from these guys, especially if you’re trying to compete and win championships.”

WATCH: Illinois Basketball 2025-26 Season Preview, Ft. Ant Wright

For more Illini coverage and conversation to get you gameday ready, host Austin Burklund has you covered on the Armchair Illini Podcast. With exciting guests and fresh insight every week, it’s another quality podcast to add to your rotation!

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