A lot of hype around Andrej. But I will be pleased if Cal can land one of the three: Andrej S., Jalen Blackmon (Stetson SG), or Aiden Mahaney. Blackmon is the most accomplished scorer of the three so far, and Mahaney has shown a well rounded overall game. Hype for Stojakovic seems based on his name and five star status coming out of high school. He struggled last season to live up to expectations, though he showed glimpses of what he might become. We’ll see if Cal and he conclude Berkeley is the right situation where that can happen.
I’d love to see Madsen get his old buddy Shaq to join us courtside for a couple games next year. Maybe that would be impossible, but I can see that helping to snowball the buzz. Stuff like that, and some good quality wins.
Wins always win the day. But, do the seven departed (transfer portalled) Bears, all but one (Brown to Virginia Tech) of whom have yet to sign to a new team, really have better prospects elsewhere? I think it’s less about buzz than about money, and putting oneself on the open market, they hope, will bear fruit. Perhaps those $$ will happen for them (except for the walk-on Wrenn, who I imagine is transferring for a different set of reasons).
The UNC/Kentucky twitter is hilarious, they can't wrap their heads around Cal even being on the list. (to be fair half of them probably think it's UCLA.)
IIRC he's mostly focused on NIL and less coaching, which is hilarious considering what he did while here. It would be the most Cal thing ever for him to do a fantastic job there.
Trying to get my head around the fact that the son of Peja--a guy who shot nearly .900 FTs during career--shot just over 50% last year. Kid's got some premium bounce for sure and would be a great add, but he's a more raw than you would suspect with that pedigree.
UNC is probably pushing hard & has deeper NIL pockets to plumb. But maybe, just maybe, Andrej would love to compete with the gauntlet that is ACC basketball while staying closer to home? And play for a coach that helped propel Jalen Tyson from a third option at TTU to a (probable) first round pick in the NBA draft 👍🤞
What's interesting is that UNC is stack full of PG/SGs. RJ Davis is rumored to return, and Seth Trimble took his name out of the portal. RJ is the reigning ACC POY and Seth Trimble is a Defensive first guard/wing that can drive and shoot some. They have a soph 5* Elliott Cadeau and an incoming 5* guard and an incoming 5* wing.
I guess Stojaković is more a wing and they're thinner there. Harrison Ingram (Furd transfer) is probably gone to the NBA. He was a do it all player that could get the ball in the block and either go 1:1 or drive and kick. Withers will probably be back, but he hadn't started at UNC last year. At first I thought Stojaković was more a shooting guard because that was how it looke like Furd used him at the game I was at. But UNC is thinner at wing so maybe that's what he is going for.
As a Kings fan who watched the battle against the hated Lakers back in the 2000s I need this. It’s too poetic. One rival coaching the son of a rival to bring that coach’s college rival school back to greatness. It’s the stuff legends are made of.
Can't afford what? Proofreaders? lol. You can't proofread it beforehand? I shouldn't be paying what I am for a subscription and get sloppy journalism. I spent 24 years in the newspaper business.
Andrej Stojakovic is a Bear.
https://x.com/JonRothstein/status/1784265758643503398
https://x.com/jeffborzello/status/1784265794156650539
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/40037706/stanford-transfer-guard-andrej-stojakovic-commits-cal
Yeah good news just came in on my ESPN notifications!!
Any updates on Rytis Petraitis?
A lot of hype around Andrej. But I will be pleased if Cal can land one of the three: Andrej S., Jalen Blackmon (Stetson SG), or Aiden Mahaney. Blackmon is the most accomplished scorer of the three so far, and Mahaney has shown a well rounded overall game. Hype for Stojakovic seems based on his name and five star status coming out of high school. He struggled last season to live up to expectations, though he showed glimpses of what he might become. We’ll see if Cal and he conclude Berkeley is the right situation where that can happen.
@avinashkunnath
can you do a story of Jorge being added to the Cal Hall of Fame?
I’d love to see Madsen get his old buddy Shaq to join us courtside for a couple games next year. Maybe that would be impossible, but I can see that helping to snowball the buzz. Stuff like that, and some good quality wins.
Wins always win the day. But, do the seven departed (transfer portalled) Bears, all but one (Brown to Virginia Tech) of whom have yet to sign to a new team, really have better prospects elsewhere? I think it’s less about buzz than about money, and putting oneself on the open market, they hope, will bear fruit. Perhaps those $$ will happen for them (except for the walk-on Wrenn, who I imagine is transferring for a different set of reasons).
excellent idea ... maybe you can suggest to Madsen
But just to be clear, I don’t need extra celebrities to be happy with Madsen. I’m just thinking about additional ways to generate buzz.
The UNC/Kentucky twitter is hilarious, they can't wrap their heads around Cal even being on the list. (to be fair half of them probably think it's UCLA.)
Mark Fox is an assistant at Kentucky? Are they de-emphasizing basketball?
Pope figured he needed more petulant children on the coaching staff.
IIRC he's mostly focused on NIL and less coaching, which is hilarious considering what he did while here. It would be the most Cal thing ever for him to do a fantastic job there.
It would actually make more sense if he was like a defensive focused assistant - of all of the things was bad at, NIL was the worst
I wonder if he pointed at Cal's generally quick responsive nature to NIL and took credit for it.
I don't know how we are in list with UNC and Kentucky but I can understand Andrej wanting to go to a blue school.
Trying to get my head around the fact that the son of Peja--a guy who shot nearly .900 FTs during career--shot just over 50% last year. Kid's got some premium bounce for sure and would be a great add, but he's a more raw than you would suspect with that pedigree.
UNC is probably pushing hard & has deeper NIL pockets to plumb. But maybe, just maybe, Andrej would love to compete with the gauntlet that is ACC basketball while staying closer to home? And play for a coach that helped propel Jalen Tyson from a third option at TTU to a (probable) first round pick in the NBA draft 👍🤞
What's interesting is that UNC is stack full of PG/SGs. RJ Davis is rumored to return, and Seth Trimble took his name out of the portal. RJ is the reigning ACC POY and Seth Trimble is a Defensive first guard/wing that can drive and shoot some. They have a soph 5* Elliott Cadeau and an incoming 5* guard and an incoming 5* wing.
I guess Stojaković is more a wing and they're thinner there. Harrison Ingram (Furd transfer) is probably gone to the NBA. He was a do it all player that could get the ball in the block and either go 1:1 or drive and kick. Withers will probably be back, but he hadn't started at UNC last year. At first I thought Stojaković was more a shooting guard because that was how it looke like Furd used him at the game I was at. But UNC is thinner at wing so maybe that's what he is going for.
Coach Mark Madsen does have an older brother named Dr Michael Madsen who is a highly respected spine surgeon in N Carolina.
does he contribute to Calegends to support his bro?
http://spot.fund/bnjhdsc
As a Kings fan who watched the battle against the hated Lakers back in the 2000s I need this. It’s too poetic. One rival coaching the son of a rival to bring that coach’s college rival school back to greatness. It’s the stuff legends are made of.
Anyone who can get us back to the Tournament would be seen as a hero. Let's go, Andrej!
Your words: "but that Mike Madsen has us competing..." Who is Mike Madsen? Mark's brother? No proofreading before posting?
We can't afford them. Fixed now, thanks for catching!
Can't afford what? Proofreaders? lol. You can't proofread it beforehand? I shouldn't be paying what I am for a subscription and get sloppy journalism. I spent 24 years in the newspaper business.
Even the New York Times has a ton of typos.
https://x.com/nyttypos?s=21&t=GQgGzEvm18uQQTwlNk7fFw
Coach Mark Madsen does have an older brother who is a highly respected spine surgeon in N Carolina.
Sure he's a doctor, but has he danced on stage with Shaq?!?!
Erlyn would know.
😂