Illinois sees Andrej Stojaković change tune on NBA Draft after previously making decision originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Here comes the NBA Draft dilemma: to declare or not to declare. For Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojaković, it appeared he was content with returning to Champaign for one more season with a chance to contend for another Final Four berth.
With May decisions still looming, ESPN's Jeff Borzello reported Sunday that Stojaković is testing the NBA waters after all.
"Illinois' Andrej Stojaković has entered his name into the NBA draft, sources told ESPN, leaving open the option to return to the Fighting Illini," Borzello tweeted. "He was an All-Region selection during Illinois' run to the Final Four."
The switch-up comes nine days after Stojaković revealed that he was returning to Illinois with a simple "I'm back" message while reading the Daily Illini in Champaign.
Not all hope is lost for the Illini, though. Stojaković has until May 27 to remove his name from consideration, giving him a month and a day to have a firm direction, no matter how it plays out.
As Illini Inquirer's Kyle Tausk noted, it is an evaluation period more than anything to see if Stojaković is actually ready to take the next step.
"Stojakovic certainly has NBA size and athleticism and is a dominant downhill threat who puts constant pressure on the rim and can be an impactful defensive player. But Stojakovic is not currently a projected draft pick," Tausk wrote.
Stojaković's coach, Brad Underwood, spoke highly of him following the Final Four.
"I think his experience here was a positive one," Underwood told reporters earlier this month. "I thought the strides he made were incredible. I couldn’t have been more pleased — especially with the fact he missed seven weeks (because of a preseason knee injury) — with his willingness to listen and his willingness and abilities to expedite his process very quickly. He impacted the game on both ends, and I’m excited about that."
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We'll see what final decision ends up being. Should Stojakovic stay in the draft, it certainly shakes up a would-be lineup entering this fall.
Ailing Yaxel Lendeborg did his best, but it was Elliot Cadeau who pushed Michigan to the top