Andrej Stojakovic, one of many high accessible gamers within the switch portal and son of former NBA star Peja Stojakovic, has dedicated to Illinois over North Carolina and Stanford, he advised ESPN on Monday.
The 6-foot-7 sophomore averaged 17.9 factors and 4.7 rebounds final season at California, the place he transferred after his freshman 12 months at Stanford. Stojakovic completed robust, averaging 33.0 factors in two ACC match video games whereas taking pictures 7-for-13 from 3-point vary.
“I believe the principle causes had been fairly clear to my interior circle as a basketball match,” Stojakovic stated. “Coach [Brad] Underwood has been very aggressive recruiting me from the beginning and always reiterating how a lot I am needed and wanted as a basketball participant there. They actually imagine I am the lacking piece to what they suppose is a nationwide championship group.”
Stojakovic cited Illinois’ observe file with bigger playmakers as influential in his choice, mentioning Ayo Dosunmu, T.J. Shannon, Marcus Domask, Will Riley, and Kasparas Jakucionis as examples.
“I am wanting ahead to being a part of a group the place I can carry the ball up and have shooters throughout,” he added.
After dropping Jakucionis and Riley early to the NBA draft, Underwood wanted to rebuild his perimeter, creating a direct alternative for Stojakovic. He turns into the fifth participant with Balkan heritage on Illinois’ roster, becoming a member of Serbian teammates Mihailo Petrovic and David Mirkovic together with Croatian brothers Zvonimir and Tomislav Ivisic.
“I am assured we are able to change into among the finest offensive groups within the nation, however it should take rather a lot defensively,” Stojakovic stated. “We have now to hone in on the little stuff. It should begin with the guards, [we] should set a tone that is going to possibly be stunning to some folks.”
The previous McDonald’s All-American and top-25 highschool recruit brings vital offensive firepower to an Illinois squad that ought to contend for each Large Ten and nationwide honors subsequent season.
