Stojakovic’s transfer a boon for Bears’ roster
Mark Madsen's efforts to rebuild the Cal roster got a boost Saturday just as Kyle Smith's efforts to rebuild the Stanford roster took a hit.
That's because swingman Andrej Stojakovic, who spent his freshman season with the Cardinal, announced on social media that he is joining the Bears.
Listed at 6-foot-7, 190 pounds, Stojakovic is the son of former NBA forward Peja Stojakovic. Andrej averaged 7.8 points per game last season when he played in 32 games, including 10 starts.
A five-star recruit from Jesuit High-Sacramento, Stojakovic didn't have great shooting numbers as a freshman.
He shot 40.9% from the floor, including 32.7% from beyond the arc, and was 19-for-36 (52.8%) from the foul line. He set a personal high with 20 points in Stanford's 99-68 rout of USC on Feb. 10.
Smith replaced Jerod Haase as the Cardinal's head coach last month. Stojakovic was one of four prominent Stanford players who entered the transfer portal. Center Maxime Raynaud opted to return to the Farm. Guard Kanaan Carlyle has gone to Indiana and forward Brandon Angel to Oregon.
Raynaud, who led Stanford with 15.5 ppg last season, will be the lone returnee of the Cardinal's top seven scorers.
With Jaylon Tyson making himself eligible for the NBA draft, and several players either having no more college eligibility or entering the transfer portal, Cal's top 10 scorers from last season no longer are on the Bears' roster.
Madsen replaced Mark Fox just more than a year ago. Madsen then made good use of the portal, getting Tyson and three other starters, Fardaws Aimaq, Jalen Cone and Keonte Kennedy. The Bears improved from 329 (2-18 Pac-12) in Fox's final season to 13-19 (9-11) in Madsen's first season.
In a sense, Stojakovic is following in Madsen's footsteps. Madsen played at Stanford (1996-2000) and was a Cardinal assistant coach in 2012-13 before taking the Cal job.