Andrej Stojakovic Enters NBA Draft After Already Announcing Return to Illinois

Andrej Stojakovic, the Illinois guard and son of NBA legend Peja Stojakovic, has entered the 2026 NBA Draft despite having previously announced he would return to college for another season — a reversal that highlights the increasingly fluid nature of college basketball roster management.

Stojakovic's decision underscores the pressure players face in evaluating their draft stock against the backdrop of name, image, and likeness compensation, transfer portal dynamics, and the NBA's age requirements. His initial commitment to return to Illinois appeared firm, but the draft process often reveals interest levels that change the calculus.

For Illinois, the about-face is a significant blow. The program had built its offseason plans around Stojakovic's return, and losing a player of his caliber this late in the cycle limits replacement options. The transfer portal remains available, but the most impactful players have already committed elsewhere.

For Stojakovic, the question is whether his draft position justifies the move. Scouts project him as a late first-round or early second-round selection — a range where guaranteed contracts are not assured. The comparison to his father's elite shooting ability creates both opportunity and unrealistic expectations.

The situation is emblematic of the new college basketball landscape, where commitments are increasingly provisional and players must navigate overlapping timelines and competing incentives.

**What This Means For You:** If you follow college basketball or NBA drafts, expect more of these late reversals as players, agents, and programs jockey for position in the new NIL-and-portal era. For Illinois fans specifically, this is a gut punch that could define next season's ceiling.