Underwood Provides Update on Stojakovic Ahead of Illinois-USC

Stojakovic made the trip to Los Angeles, but his status remains uncertain for Wednesday's matchup.

Feb. 19, 2026 at 8:47am

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Illinois head coach Brad Underwood gave an update on the status of wing Andrej Stojakovic, who has missed the last two games due to a high-ankle sprain. Underwood said Stojakovic did some practice work on Tuesday and will be a game-time decision for the Illini's matchup against USC on Wednesday. Stojakovic is a key two-way player for Illinois, and his return could be crucial against USC's talented backcourt.

Why it matters

Stojakovic's health is crucial for Illinois as they take on a tough USC team on the road. His ability to provide scoring and perimeter defense would be a major boost for the Illini, who have struggled in his absence.

The details

Stojakovic, who averages 13.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, missed Illinois' last two games against Wisconsin and Indiana due to the high-ankle sprain he suffered against Michigan State. Underwood had previously hinted that Stojakovic may miss the team's West Coast trip, but the wing was seen boarding the plane to Los Angeles. In his Tuesday press conference, Underwood said Stojakovic did some practice work on Monday and will be a game-time decision for the USC game.

  • Stojakovic suffered the high-ankle sprain against Michigan State on December 6, 2025.
  • Stojakovic missed Illinois' games against Wisconsin and Indiana in the last two outings.
  • Stojakovic was seen boarding the team plane to Los Angeles on February 16, 2026.
  • Illinois will face USC on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 9 p.m. CT.

The players

Andrej Stojakovic

A wing player for the Illinois Fighting Illini who averages 13.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. He is a key two-way player for the team and has missed the last two games due to a high-ankle sprain.

Brad Underwood

The head coach of the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“My biggest concern is the health of us long term. And if that means he needs to stay at home from L.A. and that trip, and live in the hyperbaric [chamber] and get treatment, then we'll do that. We're not just going to throw him out there with missing 10 days, 12 days, 13 days without practice.”

— Brad Underwood, Head Coach, Illinois Fighting Illini

“He did some stuff in practice yesterday, so he's making some progress, and we'll leave that as a game-time decision. Again, everything, as you guys know, with a lot of injuries is about the recovery and how they respond to that. So he's with us, and excited about that, and we'll see what that holds for tomorrow night.”

— Brad Underwood, Head Coach, Illinois Fighting Illini

What’s next

The status of Andrej Stojakovic will be determined shortly before tipoff of the Illinois-USC game on Wednesday night.

The takeaway

Stojakovic's health and availability will be crucial for Illinois as they take on a talented USC team on the road. His two-way impact could be the difference-maker for the Illini, who have struggled in his absence over the past two games.