Impact Cal freshman Wilkinson is likely to draw transfer interest. Does he want it?

Cal basketball fans are just getting acquainted with freshman Jeremiah Wilkinson and sophomore Andrej Stojakovic, first-year players who have been the team’s two top scorers.

Coach Mark Madsen said everything possible will be done to make sure both are back for next season.

“The phrase we’ll use is this: Key players are going to be retained,” he said this week.

Stojakovic, a transfer from Stanford, was expected to be a prominent player for the Bears. The 6-foot-7 guard has delivered, averaging 17.6 points to rank fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Wilkinson, who came from Powder Springs, Georgia, was a bit more of an unknown. He is providing 14.6 points per game but in nine outings since joining the starting lineup, the 6-1 point guard is scoring at a 20.4 clip.

“He’s really impressive, I can’t deny that,” Stanford coach Kyle Smith said after Wilkinson posted 19 points and five steals while sparking a comeback that fell short in Saturday’s 66-61 Cardinal victory. “Little bit like a coach in our league (Georgia Tech’s) Damon Stoudamire.

“He’s just a relentless lefty, constantly getting to the basket. Good luck trying to keep him from going left, but he does play with a certain swagger. He draws contact, puts your defense in a compromising position, and he’s probably only going to get better.”

Wilkinson drew 10 fouls against Stanford, fouling out both of the Cardinal’s point guards.

Madsen, whose Bears (12-15, 5-11 ACC) host SMU (20-7, 11-5) on Wednesday night, is not surprised by anything Wilkinson has done.

“Recruiting Jeremiah, we saw the confidence, we saw the skill level, we saw the fearlessness. He has exhibited all of those attributes in every game this year,” Madsen said. “He’s having a great season, but he believes the sky’s the limit. And we believe the sky’s the limit for Jeremiah.”

Wilkinson posted a season-high 30 points in a win over Miami and already has ascended to 10th on Cal’s all-time freshman scoring list. One of the youngest players in Division I, he has no doubts about his potential.

“When I’m on the court, nobody cares that I’m 18 years old and I might be playing against a sixth-year senior. I just have to remain confident,” he said. “I feel like I can score on anybody and I can stop anybody.”

He also says he wants to continue that journey at Cal. In an era where player movement is furious as athletes pursue financial opportunities that are now available, Wilkinson said being happy in his surroundings is high on his list.

“I can say I would like to be here,” he said. “I feel like I have a good support system here. I’m far from home, but the family feel here, being able to talk to the coaches, having a good head coach ultimately helps me be comfortable. And I can say I’m comfortable.”

Wilkinson understands he is likely to have options. But he said “there is no point in throwing away” a situation where those in his circle like him and believe in him.

“There’s always temptations out there. Everybody who’s recruiting is going to sell you a dream,” he said. “So just being able to take those and look at what’s a real opportunity and what’s fool’s gold.”

Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza was even more definitive in his intention to remain in Berkeley, but he entered the transfer portal in December and will play next season at Indiana.

Madsen, in his second season at Cal, said the university is adjusting to the landscape shift in college athletics. Keeping Wilkinson and Stojakovic are “huge priorities,” he said.

“We have a very strong alumni base. We have a very strong donor base, and I’m not going to speak specifically about financials on that,” he said.

“… This is going to be a lot of stakeholders locking arms and doing everything possible to get this done.”