Illinois Champs Dream Fueled by Retired Kings Great’s Son
Andrej Stojakovic has emerged as a key figure in Illinois’ run to the Final Four in Indianapolis. The 21-year-old junior guard blends size and skill at 6-foot-7.
NCAA Tournament performance
Stojakovic is averaging 15.0 points across four NCAA Tournament games. He scored 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting against VCU in the early rounds.
He added 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting in an upset of No. 2-seeded Houston. In the Elite Eight win over Iowa, he finished with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting and a decisive late three-point play in a 71-59 victory.
Season numbers and coach praise
For the season, he has averaged 13.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in 31 games. He started 21 of those contests for Illinois.
Coach Brad Underwood called his tournament play “fabulous” and said Stojakovic is a “perfect fit” for the team.
Family roots and early life
Stojakovic was born in Sacramento and lived parts of his childhood in Serbia and Greece. His mother, Aleka Kamila, is Greek, and he speaks multiple languages.
He starred at Jesuit High School in Carmichael. He averaged 25.3 points and 9.3 rebounds there and remained close to the school after graduation.
Father’s legacy
His father, Peja Stojakovic, was a standout with the Sacramento Kings. Peja was a three-time NBA All-Star and had his No. 16 retired at the Golden 1 Center.
Peja played 518 regular-season games with the Kings and averaged 18.3 points for the franchise. He posted a scoring high of 24.2 points in 2003-04, retired in 2011 after 13 seasons, and ranked fourth all-time in 3-pointers made at retirement.
College path
Andrej began his college career at Stanford. He averaged 7.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in 32 games, including 10 starts.
He then transferred to Cal, where he started 28 games and averaged nearly 18 points and 4.7 rebounds. He later arrived at Illinois and became a vital contributor.
Work ethic and development
He spent many summers in Sacramento working out against older, professional-caliber players. Those sessions aimed to prepare him for the physicality of college basketball.
Jesuit coach Tim Kelly credited improved strength and physical play for his smooth transition to higher levels.
Support system
Peja has attended many of his son’s games and offers both encouragement and technical advice. The two shared an emotional embrace after the Elite Eight win over Iowa.
The Stojakovic family remains based in Sacramento. Younger brother Maximos is set to join Jesuit as a freshman this fall.
Some fans and commentators have labeled the storyline “Illinois Champs Dream Fueled by Retired Kings Great’s Son” to capture the narrative around his impact. This report for Filmogaz.com was first published April 2, 2026.
