The Illinois basketball team is no stranger to being in the limelight, but what name will dominate the highlight reels and national hype this season?
While this Illini roster is full of fresh faces who all have their own arguments to make, possibly the one who will make the most headlines is incoming transfer Andrej Stojakovic. His overall skillset, storylines, and notoriety make him a player fans and the media alike will popularize.
After averaging nearly 18 points per game at the University of California last year, Stojakovic looks to continue his offensive dominance as one of the Illini’s primary scorers. Having the ball in his hands often and being a catalyst in this offense is sure to garner some well-deserved attention for him.
Moreover, Stojjakvoic's intriguing storylines make him a character to be played up by the media. The son of former NBA champion and three-time all-star Peja Stojakovic, Andrej will be compared to his father, and parallels will be easy to draw between the two.
Likewise, his journey through college, now on his third program in as many years, and the growth Stojakovic has made each year, is sure to be closely examined and displayed by the media.
Finally, the marks Stojakovic has already made on large media outlets are likely to grow as the season progresses. With CBS ranking him as the fifth-best true wing in college, he already has the attention of many.
As the season progresses, media attention will grow for Stojakovic. It is up to him to decide how the media will portray him.