Andrej Stojakovic, son of Peja and tops in portal, picks Illini - ESPN

California transfer Andrej Stojakovic, the son of former NBA star Peja Stojakovic and one of the best available players in the portal, has committed to Illinois, he told ESPN on Monday.

Stojakovic chose the Fighting Illini over North Carolina and Stanford, where he started his college career.

«I think the main reasons were pretty clear to my inner circle as a basketball fit,» Stojakovic said. «Coach [Brad] Underwood has been very aggressive recruiting me from the start and constantly reiterating how much I'm wanted and needed as a basketball player there. They really believe I'm the missing piece to what they think is a national championship team.»

Stojakovic, a 6-foot-7 sophomore, pointed to the long line of bigger playmakers who have found success under Underwood in Champaign as a key factor in his decision.

«Their track record. Ayo Dosunmu, T.J. [Shannon], [Marcus] Domask, Will Riley, Kasparas [Jakucionis], bigger guards that are considered ball-handlers, that can relieve pressure for their teammates,» Stojakovic said. «I'm looking forward to being part of a team where I can bring the ball up and have shooters all around. I can also be a shooter, play on the wing, when someone else is bringing the ball up.»

A McDonald's All-American and top-25 recruit coming out of high school, Stojakovic struggled to find consistency as a freshman at Stanford. But after transferring to Cal last spring, he had a breakout season with the Golden Bears under Mark Madsen.

Stojakovic averaged 17.9 points and 4.7 rebounds this past season, and finished the season by averaging 33.0 points in two ACC tournament games — shooting 7-for-13 from 3-point range in those contests.

«Being able to be one of those guards that can handle the ball, it