Andrej Stojaković Transfer Portal: North Carolina Leads Chase Over Illinois; Return To Stanford Still Possible

Andrej Stojaković is in the portal again, seeking his third team in three years. The 6’7″ wing and son of NBA sharpshooter Peja Stojaković is looking for a new program after averaging 17.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists last season at Cal. His shooting splits—42.7% from the field, 31.8% from deep—weren’t elite, but he showed he can score in volume. He entered with a “do not ” tag, suggesting he already has a destination lined up. Stojaković recently announced his top three schools. North Carolina is the frontrunner but Illinois and Stanford are among the top destinations for his next team.

North Carolina Take Lead After Securing Official Visit

UNC made his final cut last time, and they’re back in the conversation after securing an official visit for the Cal transfer. The situation at UNC has changed considerably since last year and Stojaković could become a household name in Chapel Hill.

Hubert Davis is entering a critical time during his tenure at North Carolina following another early NCAA Tournament exit. UNC lost both RJ Davis and Elliott Cadeau, leaving UNC’s backcourt thin heading into the offseason. Two of their key wings, Ian Jackson and Cade Tyson, have also entered the portal, opening up real rotation space.

Drake Powell is likely to return despite entering the NBA Draft and will likely take a step forward. But pairing him alongside a bonafide scorer like Stojaković would instantly elevate the entire North Carolina offense.

UNC has also landed highly sought after big man Henri Veesaar from Arizona and five-star recruit Caleb Wilson along with West Virginia transfer Jonathan Powell. Despite these additions, Stojaković would still slide into the starting lineup in a high-usage role — he’s that good.

A wing like Stojaković, who can create his own shot and stretch the floor, would bring a much-needed scoring punch to a retooling Tar Heels roster.

This would be just the kind of move that the UNC fan base has been craving in order to propel the Tar Heels back into the national spotlight.

Illinois Emerging As A Real Contender Stojaković

Don’t sleep on Illinois, which has emerged as a potential surprise destination for a player with plenty of interest.

Brad Underwood has led the Fighting Illini to the Big Dance in each of the past five seasons and has shown the ability to help players boost their overall draft stock.

The program is losing a ton of talent heading into the offseason and they’re actively hunting for experienced scoring wings, making them a perfect fit for a pure scorer like Stojaković. With Kasparas Jakucionis heading to the NBA Draft and likely to be a high lottery pick, there’s a massive playmaking void on the wing—something Stojaković could help fill immediately.

Prior to Underwood arriving in Champaign, Illinois only had one player drafted since 2012. That has changed dramatically over the past few seasons with Jakucionis ing the likes of Terrence Shannon Jr. and Ayo Dosunmu in the league. That’s something that could appeal to Stojaković, especially if Underwood decides to put the ball in his hands.

Many college basketball experts expected Stojaković to sign before leaving campus, but the fact that he’s secured visits with several other schools indicates that he’s still leaving his options open.

Return To Stanford Still A Possibility

A return to Stanford wouldn’t shock anyone. A native of Carmichael, California, Stojaković began his career at Stanford and opted to stay close to home during his first go round in the portal by transferring to Cal.

Stanford has a wide-open wing rotation and the Cardinal have been slow to fill roster spots despite losing Oziyah Sellers to St. John’s.

Stojaković would be walking into a situation where he could be “the guy” from Day 1 with head coach Kyle Smith giving him the green light as an on-ball creator, allowing him to finish what he started. The proximity to home and a major media market wouldn’t hurt either.

Stojaković visited three schools on the West Coast (USC, Gonzaga, and Washington), so it seems like he still has a genuine interest in staying close to his family, which makes Stanford a realistic possibility, despite their roster concerns.

Stojaković Opts Not To Visit Kentucky

Kentucky has been linked to other wings like Jamir Watkins, but Stojaković may be the best offensive fit. He doesn’t need to dominate the ball to produce, and Pope is clearly targeting wings who can space the floor and score in rhythm.

Despite the snug fit, Kentucky has nearly maxed out its NIL budget, making landing a player of Stojaković’s caliber a long shot this late in the process.