{"id":26228,"date":"2026-04-04T22:35:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T22:35:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/?p=26228"},"modified":"2026-04-04T22:35:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T22:35:31","slug":"illinois-andrej-stojakovic-finding-his-own-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/?p=26228","title":{"rendered":"Illinois’ Andrej Stojakovi\u0107 finding his own way"},"content":{"rendered":"


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INDIANAPOLIS \u2014 Andrej Stojakovi\u0107<\/a> walked off the court at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday morning after Illinois\u2019 open Final Four practice in front of a surprising sea of orange-clad fans.<\/p>\n

He waved with both hands to some of the people leaning over the wall to greet the Illini players on their way to the locker room, then stopped to sign a hand-drawn poster board that read that he wore No. 2 on the court but was No. 1 in that fan\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n

One of the first things that often is mentioned in reports on Stojakovi\u0107 is that he is the son of three-time NBA All-Star Peja Stojakovi\u0107.<\/p>\n

Road to the Final Four: How Illinois basketball got here for the 1st time since 2005<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The cameras sometimes find his father in the crowd watching his games. One of CBS Sports\u2019 social media features for the Final Four was Andrej trying to guess his dad\u2019s NBA stats. Their hug after Illinois\u2019 Elite Eight win over Iowa circulated online. Andrej, wearing a backward Final Four cap, slapped his dad\u2019s hand, went in for a hug and listened as his dad said a few words, both breaking into big smiles.<\/p>\n

But Andrej Stojakovi\u0107 is trying to forge his own path beyond his father\u2019s legacy, and he has made a name for himself in this NCAA Tournament. During Illinois\u2019 run to its national semifinal against Connecticut at 5:09 p.m. Saturday, the 6-foot-7 junior wing averaged 15 points on 59.5% shooting and three rebounds in the four games. He was named to the All-South Region team.<\/p>\n

He has done it with a smooth, athletic, downhill game that is different from that of his dad, who was a lethal shooter during his 13-year NBA career and is second all time in 3-pointers made for the Sacramento Kings.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure nobody can put themselves in his shoes,\u201d Illinois assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Geoff Alexander said. \u201cThat\u2019s a lot to live up to. Peja was one of the best players in the world and a guy that has won. For him to have to live in his footsteps, I think he\u2019s done an unbelievable job.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s very secure in his own skin. He knows he\u2019s Andrej Stojakovi\u0107 and not the son of Peja Stojakovi\u0107. He\u2019s trying to carve out his own path, his own lane, his own identity. It\u2019s a beautiful thing to see.\u201d<\/p>\n

As coach Brad Underwood made his media rounds over the weekend to preview Illinois\u2019 first trip to the Final Four since 2005<\/a>, he told a story on \u201cThe Rich Eisen Show\u201d about Peja\u2019s visit to Illinois with Andrej, who transferred in after a freshman season at Stanford and a sophomore season as the leading scorer at California.<\/p>\n

Peja walked into Illinois\u2019 gym \u2014 hadn\u2019t touched a ball \u2014 and nailed 13 straight 3-pointers.<\/p>\n

The Mavericks’ Peja Stojakovi\u0107 follows through on a 3-pointer against the Warriors on March 20, 2011, in Dallas. (LM Otero\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe man still can fill it up,\u201d Alexander said. \u201cHe can put it in the basket.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andrej admitted there\u2019s a pressure in that \u2014 trying to make his own way in a game his father played so well. But at this point, it\u2019s nothing new.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve dealt with that expectation and pressure my whole life,\u201d Andrej said. \u201cSo I haven\u2019t really bought into anything that\u2019s been said recently in the tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n

Underwood said a couple of times this season that Peja tries to let Andrej be himself \u2014 not Peja\u2019s son. As Illinois has garnered more and more media attention during the tournament, Peja has declined interviews, wanting the focus to be on Andrej.<\/p>\n

Both of Andrej\u2019s parents have helped him with his career. His mother, Aleka Kamila, is \u201ceverything\u201d to him and has helped him when he has struggled mentally with his confidence or the pressure he faces.<\/p>\n

For twins Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivi\u0161i\u0107, helping Illinois to Final Four in reunion year an \u2018incredible\u2019 journey<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Andrej said Peja has offered advice throughout his career \u2014 \u201cnot just about basketball but life in general.\u201d But he also hasn\u2019t interfered, which Andrej said comes in part from the natural obstacles that an NBA player\u2019s family faces.<\/p>\n

\u201cThroughout my life, I\u2019ve dealt with when I was younger, stretches of not being around him, him being on the road so much,\u201d Andrej said. \u201cWhen he lived in different cities, me visiting on the weekends. We have a really good relationship of when I\u2019m busy, he lets me experience things on my own and not really get in the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Illinois forward Jake Davis said that comes through because Andrej is \u201c100% his own player,\u201d though he does think it has been \u201csuper sick\u201d to have an NBA legend around the program.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe wants to get better and wants to learn and strive to win games as a team,\u201d Davis said. \u201cHe\u2019s very much a team player for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andrej looks forward to spending more time with his parents in the offseason, but right now he has business to handle.<\/p>\n

\"Illinois
Illinois guard Andrej Stojakovi\u0107 (2) celebrates after dunking against VCU during the first half in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Greenville, S.C. (Brynn Anderson\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After battling injuries at different times this season \u2014 a knee issue in the preseason and a high ankle sprain in February \u2014 he has made himself a player crucial to Illinois\u2019 success down the stretch. He comes off the bench to provide a key scoring spark, often changing the game\u2019s dynamic with his ability to get to the rim, and has scored 17 points or more in four of Illinois\u2019 last seven games. But the Illini also have relied on him to be a multifaceted player.<\/p>\n

Alexander pointed to his help defending Iowa star guard Bennett Stirtz in the Elite Eight game<\/a>. Stirtz came out in that game hot as the Hawkeyes jumped to an early lead, but Stirtz went 2-for-8 from the field and 1-for-5 from 3-point range in the second half.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe made an adjustment and used (Andrej\u2019s) length, his athleticism, his ability to make Stirtz take hard shots. It was huge for us,\u201d Alexander said. \u201cNot that he couldn\u2019t do that before. He just knows how important it is now to winning. Those are the things he\u2019s grown in from year to year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andrej picked Illinois because he wanted to expand his game and he wanted to win. He wants to continue doing both.<\/p>\n