Illinois basketball fans, mark your calendars for May 27—that's the date when one of the biggest offseason questions for the Fighting Illini will finally be answered.

Andrej Stojakovic, the team's second-leading scorer from last season, has kept fans on the edge of their seats. After teammates David Mirkovic, the Ivisic twins, and Jake Davis all committed to returning to State Farm Center for the 2026-27 campaign, the veteran guard initially followed suit. But then he entered his name into the 2026 NBA Draft, and after turning heads with some impressive pre-draft workouts, the situation has become anything but certain.

"The more we get closer to that deadline, I'll know more," Stojakovic said during media availability at the NBA Combine. "I think the group around me has done a really good job of evaluating and staying level-headed no matter what kind of feedback we hear."

For Stojakovic, the NBA has been a lifelong dream. And right now, he's all in on chasing it.

"I'm in the draft with both feet in right now," he stated firmly.

But here's where it gets interesting for Illini faithful. Unlike many prospects in his position, Stojakovic has a rare fallback option that's hard to ignore: the chance to return to a team that's poised for a deep postseason run.

"I think I'm in a special situation where my option to go back to school is one of a kind," Stojakovic explained. "Not many people in this combine have the option to go back to a Final Four team with most of the guys returning."

The Illini staff has been right there with him throughout the process, offering support without pressure. "They've all shown tremendous belief in what I can do," Stojakovic said. "Something that the staff has been by my side with. And I'm sure they'll be by my side no matter the decision."

Still, the reality is that even with a strong returning core, Stojakovic knows he'll be taking the court next season without Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell. That makes his decision—and the May 27 deadline—all the more pivotal for the program's championship aspirations.