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Illinois basketball will win the Andrej Stojakovic battle due to these two factors

It makes all the sense in the world for Andrej Stojakovic to remain with the Illinois basketball team next season because of these two important factors.
ByOwen Christopher|
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Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) speaks in a press conference after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) speaks in a press conference after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images | Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

The news of Andrej Stojakovic declaring for the NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility hit Illinois basketball fans with a wave of uneasy nervousness Sunday morning.

Fans should fully expect Stojakovic to be playing for the Illini next season. 

By all means, Stojakovic is very likely to come back for the 2026-27 campaign. He is simply using this as an opportunity to gain draft insight from scouts and put his name out there. This move is essentially a career fair for him.

One of the biggest factors that will influence his decision, which he will learn from this process, is his draft stock and positioning because this affects Stojakovic's money.

Currently, ESPN has him ranked 64th overall, a position that would put him outside of the 60-selection NBA Draft or, at best, a late second-round pick. 

Lachlan Olbrich was drafted 55th overall in last year's NBA draft, making a base salary of $636,434. Likewise, John Tonje was drafted 53rd overall and makes $157,280.

Both of these players were drafted right around the range in which Stojakovic is likely to be drafted if he were to commit to the draft.

While actual NIL numbers are not released, On3 has him listed as the 92nd highest valued college basketball player, with plenty of advertisements ranging from Raising Cane's to Culver’s. Add whatever Illinois is paying him, and it is likely far more than he would make in the NBA. 

Illinois basketball development history has to be enticing for Andrej Stojakovic to stay

Likewise, overall development to rise up draft boards is a huge perk for Stojakovic at Illinois. Given the history the program has and the development and opportunity problem the NBA has, college is a better option to grow as a player. 

Brad Underwood and his staff have helped work players like Terrance Shannon Jr. and Keaton Wagler into first-round picks by giving them a plethora of opportunities. Stojakovic could be given the same amount of opportunity this season with Illinois. 

Moreover, Shannon is a prime example of the NBA being poor in developing and utilizing younger players. While he has flashed his excellence on the big stage, the coaching staff still has yet to give him a true chance. 

This practice is widely applicable to other solid, young players around the league, meaning Stojakovic’s likelihood of getting buried in the G League, the NBA’s development league, might be high. 

Given these compounding factors, look for Stojakovic to come back to Illinois reinvigorated and motivated to rise up draft boards and push the program to their 4th straight year with a first-round pick. 

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