Illinois' Stojakovic to Return for Senior Season

Veteran guard's decision boosts Illini's Final Four hopes

Apr. 17, 2026 at 7:53pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting an Illinois basketball player in motion, with the player's form fractured and abstracted into overlapping planes of bright blue, orange, and white.Stojakovic's return adds to Illinois' veteran core as the program aims to build on its recent Final Four appearance.Champaign Today

Illinois guard Andrej Stojakovic will return to the Illini for his senior season, sources told Sports Illustrated's Kevin Sweeney. Stojakovic's return, along with the Ivisic twins, Jake Davis, and David Mirkovic, continues the offseason momentum for Illinois as the program looks to replicate its Final Four appearance from last season.

Why it matters

Stojakovic's decision to stay is a major boost for Illinois, which is losing star freshman guard Keaton Wagler to the NBA. With Stojakovic and several other key contributors back, the Illini are positioned as one of the top teams in the Big Ten for the upcoming season.

The details

Stojakovic has improved in each of his first three years at Illinois, shooting a career-high 50% from the field and averaging 4.5 rebounds per game last season. While his three-point shooting remains a work in progress, he is a valuable offensive piece for the Illini. Illinois has also added several talented newcomers, including 6'7" European guard Stefan Vaaks and four-star recruits Quentin Coleman, Lucas Morillo, Ethan Brown, and Landon Davis, to complement their returning core.

  • Stojakovic will return to Illinois for the 2026-27 season.

The players

Andrej Stojakovic

A junior guard for the Illinois Illini who has improved in each of his first three seasons, shooting a career-high 50% from the field and averaging 4.5 rebounds per game last year.

Keaton Wagler

A star freshman guard for Illinois last season who is leaving the program to enter the NBA draft.

Brad Underwood

The head coach of the Illinois Illini, who has worked to rebuild the roster and position the team as a top contender in the Big Ten.

Stefan Vaaks

A 6'7" European guard who transferred to Illinois after averaging 15.8 points, 3.2 assists and 2.5 rebounds at Providence last season.

Quentin Coleman

A four-star shooting guard who recently committed to Illinois after initially pledging to Wake Forest.

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What they’re saying

“Stojakovic's return continues the offseason momentum for the Illini as the program tries to replicate its Final Four season.”

— Kevin Sweeney, Sports Illustrated Reporter

What’s next

Illinois will look to build on its Final Four appearance last season with the return of Stojakovic and other key contributors, as well as the addition of several talented newcomers.

The takeaway

Illinois has positioned itself as one of the top teams in the Big Ten for the upcoming season, retaining its veteran core while also adding new talent to the roster. Stojakovic's decision to return is a significant boost that should help the Illini contend for another deep NCAA Tournament run.